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AN EARLY START 



Grandpa’s Little 
Girls’ House-Boat 
Party 


ALICE TURNER £URTIS 

AUTHOR OF 

“GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS” 
GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS AT SCHOOL 
* GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS AND 
THEIR FRIENDS” 


Illustrated by WUANITA SMITH 















ca* 


COPYRIGHT 
1910 BY 
THE PENN 
PUBLISHING 
COMPANY 



(gt.l A268019 


Introduction 


Constance and Eunice Newman were fortunate in 
having a grandfather who believed that good times 
were good for children. “ In Grandpa’s Little Girls ” 
was told the delightful story of a summer on his farm 
in Maine, where they became acquainted with the 
Woody ears and Miss Abitha Bean, who was even 
better than a grandfather in inventing things to do. 

“ Grandpa’s Little Girls at School ” was the story 
of how the Newman girls dreaded to go to school, but 
found that Miss Wilson’s was nothing to be afraid of. 
In fact they had at school some of their best times, and 
met there the good friends who in “ Grandpa’s Little 
Girls and Their Friends ” helped Constance to learn 
some valuable lessons not taught in the school books. 
Among those with whom they became acquainted at 
Miss Wilson’s were Kose Mason, Myrtle Green, Elinor 
Perry and the Glidden twins, without whom this 
present story of a delightful vacation would have been 
incomplete. 



Contents 


FAGH 


CHAPTER 


I. 

The House-Boat . 




9 

II. 

Many Adventures 




1 7 

III. 

A Midnight Visitor 




27 

IV. 

About Dannie 




36 

V. 

A Night in the Rain . 




44 

VI. 

A Young Heroine . 




53 

VII. 

The Wawenocks . 




60 

VIII. 

An Old Friend Appears 




68 

IX. 

Happy Days . 




78 

X. 

A Ride and an Adventure 




88 

XI. 

Farewell to the Farm 




96 

XII. 

At the Islands 




105 

XIII. 

Captain Penrith’s Fault 




114 

XIV. 

Island Visitors 




122 

XV. 

In Danger . 




I 3 I 

XVI. 

The Rescue . 




140 

XVII. 

Homeward Bound 




150 

XVIII. 

A Favoring Storm 




l 59 

XIX. 

A New Tribe 




169 

XX. 

At Spring Pond 




180 

XXI. 

The Basket Under the Oak 



192 

XXII. 

The Top of the Mountain 




205 

XXIII. 

The End of the Journey 




216 


5 


* 


t 


Illustrations 


An Early Start . 

There Was No Time to Lose 
They Advanced, Indian File 
“ I Knew I Couldn’t Be Lost ’ 


Frontispiece ^ 

• 54 ^ 

76^ 

. 145 K 


A Happy Silence Fell Upon the Little Party . 178 


Grandpa’s Little Girls’ House-Boat Party 


7 





























. ...... 



















Grandpa’s Little Girls’ House- 
Boat Party 

CHAPTER I 

THE HOUSE-BOAT 

“Yes,” said Miss Abitha smilingly, “I am sure it 
will do splendidly.” 

“ I think it will myself,” responded Mr. Henry New- 
man. “ What do you suppose Lamb and Constance will 
think of it ? ” 

“We shall know very soon. They ought to be here 
now,” replied Miss Abitha, and at that moment a loud 
“ Coo-ee ” was heard farther up the path, and Con- 
stance Newman came in sight, closely followed by her 
friend Rose Mason, while close behind them were Lamb 
Newman and Myrtle Green. 

Constance was the first to reach the bank of the 
river. “ It’s fine ! ” she exclaimed. “ Look, girls,” she 
called out, “here is the wonderful house-boat that 
Mr. Eben Bean and Grandpa Newman made. Isn’t it 
great ? ” 


9 


io Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“It looks like a house built on a raft,” declared 
Lamb, “ only I can see that it’s a scow.” 

Mr. Newman laughed. “ Don’t you want to go on 
board ? ” he asked. 

“ Of course we do,” said Constance. “ Why, ever 
since we got home from school grandpa has been telling 
us about this wonderful boat. I knew just how it 
would look weeks ago, even if he didn’t want us to see 
it until it was finished.” 

“ And I know just how long it is : thirty-two feet 
long,” announced her younger sister, “ and sixteen feet 
wide. And the roof isn’t a roof, but a promenade 
deck.” 

While Lamb told all these facts about the queer- 
looking craft which lay close to the bank Miss Abitha 
had stepped on the broad plank which bridged the space 
between land and boat and was now standing on the 
deck of the boat waiting for the others. 

Just before the Newman girls returned from Miss 
Wilson’s school Grandpa Newman had decided that the 
family would enjoy a change of scene during the sum- 
mer, and that a trip down the river and perhaps along 
the coast would be just the thing. When he spoke of 
it to Miss Abitha she at once declared that he ought 
to build a house-boat, ancj have a house-boat party. 


House-Boat Party 1 1 

“ You can find some sort of a scow or flatboat at a 
bargain in Bath,” she said, “ and you and father can 
deck it over and build a house on it. Then you can 
hire a man with a small launch to pull your boat along ; 
and when you want to stop anywhere you can do so.” 

Eunice, who was almost always called Lamb, and 
Constance Newman had had Miss Abitha Bean for a 
teacher when they first came to live at their grandfather’s 
farm, and the little girls sometimes forgot that she was 
a woman of middle age, she entered so heartily into all 
their plans and amusements. Her father, Mr. Eben 
Bean, was employed on the Newmans’ farm ; as was also 
Jimmie Woody ear, the son of a neighboring family. 

Grandpa Newman was delighted at Miss Abitha’s 
suggestion, and lost no time in going in search of a big 
flat-bottomed boat on which to build the house which 
would make it possible for them all to journey down 
the river as comfortably as if they were on shore. He 
found the boat without much trouble, and had it towed 
up the river as near the farm as possible. During May 
and June he and Mr. Eben Bean, with some assistance 
from Jimmie Woody ear and young Mr. Newman, had 
worked busily away on the “Water Witch,” as the 
girls had named her. Grandpa had told Constance 
and Eunice that they could invite four of their girl 


12 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

friends to go with them for a month’s cruise. Rose 
Mason and Myrtle Green and the Glidden twins had 
been asked. Rose and Myrtle had already arrived, and 
the Glidden girls had promised to come that night. 

The house-boat was all ready for her passengers. It 
was painted a shining white, a big flag waved from its 
flag-pole, and it was no wonder that the girls all ex- 
claimed with delight at the prospect of a month’s cruise 
in such a novel craft. There was a living-room with 
four large windows and two doors, one of which opened 
out upon the forward deck, and the other to a passage 
leading aft where there were two good-sized sleeping- 
rooms fitted with comfortable berths. There was also 
a square little kitchen and a bath room. The “Water 
Witch ” was provided with a rudder, and there was a 
steepish stair leading to her promenade deck. 

It did not take the visitors long to find out that 
everything was just right. 

“ There are four berths in each cabin,” said Eunice 
admiringly, “ and grandpa says the man will sleep on 
the launch. We’ll have room for everybody.” 

“ Not for your grandma and me,” answered her 
father laughingly. “ Your grandma is a wise lady, and 
she says she doesn’t believe in house-boats. She says it 
may rain, and that damp weather is bad for rheuma- 


»3 


House-Boat Party 

tism. So I shall stay at home with her, and your 
mother and grandfather will have all the responsibility.” 

“ Let me see,” said Miss Abitha, “ how many girls 
will there be, besides me?” 

“ There are four of us,” answered Constance ; “ that 
is, five with you, Miss Abitha ; and mother makes six, 
and the Glidden twins are eight; that fills all the 
berths. Grandpa will have to sleep in the living-room.” 

“ I do hope those berths are good and strong,” said 
Myrtle Green ; “ you know how heavy the twins are.’ 

“ Oh, they are strong as can be,” Constance assured 
her. “ Mr. Eben Bean said they were.” 

“ What is the man’s name that runs the launch ? ” 
asked Eunice, as she walked beside her father up the 
shady wood road which came out near Pine Tree Farm. 

“His name is Mr. Penrith,” answered her father, 
“ Mr. John Penrith ; and not only can he start up his 
engine and pull you in the direction you want to go, 
but he can and will step into the pantry and cook your 
dinner and serve it, and keep the boat clean, and do all 
that will need to be done.” 

“ Oh, girls ! ” exclaimed Eunice waiting until the rest 
of the party had caught up with her father, “ just hear 
about this wonderful man who owns the launch ! ” and 
she repeated all that her father had told her. 


14 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

44 He must be the man Longfellow wrote about,” said 
Miss Abitha, “ who 4 learned to labor and to wait.’ ” 
There was a laugh at this, but Kose Mason declared 
that she believed him to be the man Mr. Gilbert wrote 
about, the man who was 

u The cook and the captain bold, 

And the mate of the 4 Nancy ’ brig, 

And the bos’un tight, and the midshipmite 
And the crew of the captain’s gig.” 

“ Well, you’ll all like Mr. Penrith as captain or cook,” 
said Mr. Newman. 

The Glidden twins arrived on the night train and 
Mrs. Newman sent her household to bed at an early 
hour that night. 

44 Your grandpa wants us to be ready for an early 
start,” she said as she bade the girls good-night, 44 so 
don’t keep each other awake talking. You’ll have an 
entire month together.” 

The girls all promised not to say a word after they 
were in bed, but Lamb’s last sleepy whisper was, 44 Just 
think of Grandpa Newman having eight berths.” 

44 1 wish Mary Woodyear could go,” responded Con- 
stance. 

Lamb remembered her promise and said no more. 


15 


House-Boat Party 

Myrtle had her one whisper to Rose Mason also. 
“ Wasn’t it lovely of Grandpa Newman to tell Eunice 
and Constance they could have a house-boat party ? ” 

And Rose answered briefly, “Yes.” Rose was the 
eldest of the group of girls, and was not only a great 
favorite with her companions but the fathers and 
mothers loved and trusted her. 

“ If neither Abitha nor I could go I would feel safe 
about them all if Rose Mason was there,” Mrs. New- 
man had said when the plans for the trip were talked 
over ; and Grandpa Newman had nodded approvingly. 

“ Constance is going to be just as thoughtful and re- 
liable as Rose,” declared Grandmother Newman, “ and 
Eunice will be, too. We have never indulged the 
children, and they are good girls, if I did have a hand 
in their bringing up,” she concluded proudly. 

“ I have a mind to ask Dannie Woody ear to go on 
the trip,” said grandpa. “ Miss Abitha says he is a 
smart boy and she is helping him with his lessons, and 
a ten-year-old boy is a good deal of use on a boat. I 
believe I will step over to the Woody ears and see what 
they say about it.” 

The Woody ears were as pleased as Dannie himself at 
the idea of such a pleasant trip for their little son. 
Dannie was not yet ten years old, but he had already 


16 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

decided to be an astronomer when he became a man ; 
and Miss Abitha Bean had loaned him many interest- 
ing books about the stars, and told him something of 
what he must learn to carry out such a plan. 

“ I’ll see lots of stars from the top of that boat,” he 
declared happily, and he was the first one to arrive at 
the “ Water Witch ” the next morning. Besides a 
bundle of clothing he brought his beloved telescope. 
He was to have a couch in the living-room near Grandpa 
Newman’s. 

Mr. Penrith, or Captain Penrith as they all called him, 
said it was a good thing to have Dannie along. “ He’ll 
be a sight of help,” he declared approvingly. 


CHAPTER II 


MANY ADVENTURES 

The sun was just showing itself over the big pines 
when the lines holding the house-boat to the shore were 
cast off, the little launch gave a shrill whistle, Grandpa 
Newman took his place at the helm, and the house- 
boat gently glided out into the stream. There seemed 
to be birds in every bush along the river banks ; masses 
of foliage were mirrored in the clear waters near the 
shore, and the whole party were in the best of spirits. 

“ Well, Dannie, what kind of weather represents an 
animal ? ” questioned Miss Abitha as the house-boat 
moved steadily along. 

Dannie shook his head, and as none of the others could 
guess Miss Abitha said, “ Why, Rain, dears, of course.” 

“ Could I fish ? ” Dannie asked eagerly. “ I brought 
some hooks and lines and bait.” 

Grandpa gave the desired permission and Dannie 
and Miss Abitha soon had the lines overboard and 
waited eagerly for a bite. 

“ How far shall we go to-day, mother ? ” questioned 
Constance. 

17 


18 Grandpa s Little Girls 

“ I don’t know,” responded Mrs. Newman. “ You 
see, we move very slowly, not a third as fast as most 
craft. Probably we will tie up in some pleasant cove 
about noon and have dinner and perhaps stay all 
night.” 

“ Can we go ashore wherever we stop ? ” asked Con- 
stance. 

“ Why, yes, I think so,” replied her mother. “ Your 
grandpa plans for us to see all we can of the country, 
and when we stop at any towns we will go ashore for 
our dinners, or for supper if it be toward night.” 

“ I hope Penrith knows all about the shoals in this 
river,” grandpa exclaimed as the house-boat seemed to 
grate a little. Then came a harsher sound, a straining 
on the line that held her to the launch, then the tow- 
ing-line slackened, the “ chug-chug” of the launch 
ceased, and Mr. Penrith called out : “ Say, I guess 
we’ve struck a sand-bar.” 

“ Oh, girls ! Will we have to stay here all night ? ” 
exclaimed Adrienne Glidden. 

“Of course not,” responded Myrtle. “Why, it’s 
only nine in the morning. See, Mr. Penrith is putting 
on another tow-line, and Grandpa Newman is poking 
with that long pole ; we shall start in no time.” 

But it proved to be an hour before the “Water 


>9 


House-Boat Party 

Witch ” was clear of the sand and moving steadily on. 
Just before noon the launch changed its course and 
headed nearer the shore. “ This is the prettiest place 
on the river,” declared Mr. Penrith, “ and deep water 
right up to the bank.” 

It did not take long to make the boat fast to con- 
venient trees and the little party all went on shore, 
leaving Mr. Penrith in the little kitchen. It seemed a 
most unsettled part of the country. There were no houses 
in sight ; not even a path led down to the river. There 
were a great many tall pines near the shore, but very 
little underbrush. 

Grandpa Newman and his daughter said they would 
stay near the boat, while Miss Abitha and Dannie, fol- 
lowed by the six girls,, decided to walk up from the 
river a little way. 

“ I haven’t wanted to play 4 hide-and-go-seek ’ before 
since I was a little bit of a girl,” said Myrtle Green, 
“ but these woods were just made for it.” 

44 Let’s play,” said Lamb. 44 1 can find you all, I 
know I can. Let me be blind man.” So Pose Mason’s 
silk neck-scarf was bound about Eunice’s eyes and in a 
few minutes the shady woods resounded with merry 
calls and warnings as Lamb rushed up to big trees or 
circled round others. Miss Abitha was the first one 


20 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

caught, and the second game had just begun when the 
sound of a bell calling them to dinner sent them all 
running toward the river. 

They had reached the boat and Miss Abitha stood 
at the gangway counting them laughingly as they went 
on board, and as Dannie ended the procession she ex- 
claimed, “ Why, where’s Lamb ? ” 

“ Perhaps she was so well hid she didn’t hear the 
bell,” suggested Rose. “ I’ll run back and call her.” 

“We won’t eat all the dinner,” said Constance, “ but 
hurry up,” and Rose turned and ran lightly back to the 
place where she had last seen her little friend. 

“ Eunice ! ” she called, and getting no response went 
on a little farther calling as she went, “Eunice! 
Eunice ! ” “ She can’t be lost,” Rose said aloud, “ for 

any one could find her way back to the boat from here. 
I believe she’s having a game of ‘ hide-and-go-seek ’ 
with me.” And that was exactly what Lamb was do- 
ing. She had been close behind Dannie when they 
had all started for the boat, and had jumped behind a 
big tree as the others scrambled down the bank. See- 
ing Rose start back in search of her she had run behind 
another tree ; and then was sometimes ahead and some- 
times behind her pursuer, while Rose kept on without 
an idea that Lamb was so near. 


21 


House-Boat Party 

An hour passed and neither Rose nor Lamb had re- 
turned to the boat. The others had finished their 
dinner and Mrs. Newman now declared that she was 
going in search of the missing girls. 44 I know some- 
thing is wrong,” she said, 4 4 for Rose Mason would not 
stay away like this.” 

It was decided that Miss Abitha and Dannie should 
accompany her. 

None of the others felt anxious. 44 They’ve found 
some flowers or berries or something and forgotten all 
about dinner,” suggested Myrtle as they watched the 
three starting off among the big trees. They had gone 
but a short distance into the woods when they all 
stopped suddenly. 44 Help ! Help ! ” came a distinct 
call. 

44 It’s Lamb ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Newman. 44 It’s 
Rose ! ” echoed Miss Abitha, and instantly each one of 
the party hurried in the direction of the sound. 

44 Do you suppose Lamb has sprained her ankle ? ” 
asked Constance as they ran swiftly along. No one 
answered, and as the second call of 44 Help ” came Mrs. 
Newman shouted back, 44 We’re coming.” 

Dannie was the one to first discover Rose and Eunice. 
He had run on in advance of the others, and soon saw 
the girls in the centre of a patch of blossoming shrubs. 


22 Grandpa s Little Girls 

He was about to push his way through the thickly 
growing bushes when Rose called : 

“ Go back, Dannie ! These are thorn-bushes, and 
Eunice and I are held fast by them. We can’t get 
out.” 

In a moment Mrs. Newman and Miss Abitha were 
beside Dannie, and could see Rose and Eunice very 
plainly. 

“ Lamb ran in here to hide and I came after her, and 
we are caught so we can hardly move. I don’t see 
how we can get out,” explained Rose. 

“ Oh, dear,” called Lamb, “ my skirts are all torn, 
and my hand scratched. Do get us out.” 

“ Dannie, run back and tell Mr. Penrith to come up 
here with an axe and a long rope,” said Miss Abitha, 
and the boy ran swiftly toward the boat. 

“ What good will a rope do, Miss Abitha ? ” ques- 
tioned Rose. 

“Perhaps he can lasso those thorn-bushes and pull 
them down enough for you to get clear,” responded 
Miss Abitha. “ I read of that being- done to get some 
people clear of cactus in California.” 

“ Was the dinner good ? ” asked Lamb, in so tragic a 
voice that they all laughed. 

It was not long before Mr. Penrith appeared, closely 


2 3 


House-Boat Party 

followed by Grandpa Newman. Miss Abitha’s scheme 
was promptly tried. The taller of the bushes were 
pulled down out of the girls’ way, and with a few care- 
ful strokes of the axe Mr. Penrith cut a passage so that 
the girls could make their way to smooth ground once 
more. Their dresses were torn, and as the other girls 
came running to meet them Constance called out, 
“ Raggety man, raggety man — hurry along as fast as 
you can.” 

Eunice thought it rather hard that her innocent fun 
should have brought her and Rose into so much trouble. 
But no one had any word of blame for her, and Mr. 
Penrith and Mrs. Newman hurried to prepare a bounti- 
ful luncheon for the girls in place of the dinner they 
had missed. 

It was decided that they would remain for the night 
at their present moorings, and grandpa suggested that 
it was just the time for Eunice and Miss Abitha to take 
photographs of the “Water Witch.” 

“ But we ought to be out in the middle of the stream 
to get the right light,” said Miss Abitha. 

“We can take Mr. Penrith’s rowboat and go to the 
middle of the river,” responded Lamb enthusiastically. 
“ You know I learned to row at school.” 

It did not take long for Mr. Penrith to put the small 


24 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

boat in readiness, and Miss Abitha and Eunice were 
soon rowing toward the point where they would have 
the best view of the house-boat. 

“You must all stand on the roof; no, I mean the 
promenade deck,” Lamb had directed, as they started off. 

Miss Abitha and Eunice Newman had both taken a 
good many excellent photographs. Some of Miss 
Abitha’s had been used to illustrate a book on the 
small animals and plants of the country about Pine 
Tree Farm, and they were both anxious to get as good 
a picture of the boat as possible. 

“ This is just the right distance,” declared Miss 
Abitha, after a few strokes. So they drew in their 
oars and began to adjust their cameras. 

Miss Abitha was a very tall woman and it was some- 
what difficult for her to move about in the tiny boat, 
which swayed dangerously at every change of position. 

“ If it wasn’t Abitha I should be sure that boat would 
upset,” said Mrs. Newman laughingly as they all stood 
in line on the “ roof ” waiting for the picture to be taken. 

“No danger when Abitha is in charge,” declared 
grandpa smilingly, and at that instant there came a 
scream from Antoinette Glidden, echoed by the other 
girls, “ The boat’s upset ! They’re overboard ! ” 

“ It will be all right,” said Rose Mason quickly. 


25 


House-Boat Party 

“ Lamb and Miss Abitha know exactly what to do. 
Look ! There is Lamb back at the boat now ! And 
there is Miss Abitha.” 

Mr. Penrith was running toward his launch, but 
grandpa stopped him. 

“ No need of it, Penrith,” he said. “ Just watch them. 
I declare it is worth a good deal to see a woman and a 
girl show such presence of mind.” For Miss Abitha 
and Lamb had succeeded in righting the boat, in secur- 
ing the oars, and were now pulling vigorously toward 
shore. 

They scrambled on board the house-boat dripping 
and laughing at their adventure, but while the others 
were congratulating and praising them, Dannie stood 
by silent and with a very anxious face. 

“ What is it, Dannie ? ” questioned Miss Abitha, as 
she started toward the cabin. 

“ Your cameras ! ” said Dannie solemnly. 

“ My soul ! ” and Miss Abitha’s face grew as sober as 
Dannie’s. “ We didn’t think of our cameras, Eunice,” 
she exclaimed. 

“ I did,” replied Lamb, “ but I knew they were 
spoiled anyway.” 

“ And all through my awkwardness,” insisted Miss 
Abitha. 


26 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ Don’t worry about cameras, Abitha,” interrupted 
Grandpa Newman. “ I’ll buy you and Lamb each just 
as good cameras as those you have lost, as soon as we 
get to Bath. Hurry off now and get into dry clothes.” 


CHAPTEB III 


A MIDNIGHT VISITOR 

Captain Penrith said they could have their sup- 
per on shore under the big trees, if they wanted to ; 
and they all declared it was just what they wanted. 
Constance and Bose spread the white cloth over the 
dry pine spills, Mrs. Newman and the Glidden girls 
helped Mr. Penrith bring out the dishes of appetizing 
salad and pitchers of cool lemonade, and as they talked 
over their first day’s happenings the house-boat party 
all declared that it looked like an adventurous cruise. 

“ Let me see,” said Grandpa Newman, “ we have 
run on to a sand-bar ; two of the party had to be rescued 
from thorn-bushes ; two more rescued themselves from 
the river, and here it is only sunset of the first day.” 

“ I like to have things happen,” said Lamb happily. 

“ Well, as you have started out I should say you 
would have what you like,” responded her mother. 

“ Adrienne, I wish you and Antoinette would sing,” 
suggested Myrtle, after the supper had been cleared 
away and they were all watching the beautiful reflec- 
tion of the sunset skies in the clear water. 

27 


28 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

The Glidden twins smiled at each other and a mo- 
ment later their sweet voices sounded through the 
shadowy woods in the song the girls at Miss Wilson’s 
school had always liked to sing. When they began the 
chorus Constance and the other girls joined in : 

“ The wood- thrush sings of home and west, — 

And so do we. 

He sings of the place he loves the best, 

And it’s home, sweet home for me.” 

Dannie had gone up on the promenade deck and his 
small telescope was pointed toward the evening star, 
now showing faintly in the clear sky. 

As the girls finished singing Miss Abitha arose and 
walked with a dignified step toward the centre of the 
little circle. Making a low bow she began to recite : 

u 1 ’Tis merry, ’tis merry, in good greenwood, 

Though the birds have stilled their singing. 

When the court doth ride by their monarch’s side, 
With bit and bridle ringing. 

u 4 It was between the night and day, 

When the Fairy King has power, 

And Sprites and Mites do dance about, 

Just at the twilight hour.’ 

By Miss Abitha Bean and Sir Walter Scott,” she 
concluded with another low bow. 


2 9 


House-Boat Party 

“ And now it is time for us to see how comfortably 
one can sleep in a house-boat,” said Mrs. Newman, and 
one by one the little party filed^on board the “Water 
Witch,” all but Grandpa Newman and Mr. Penrith, and 
Dannie, who was still star-gazing. Grandpa and Mr. 
Penrith waited on shore for a little talk about their 
future plans. 

“ I don’t want to make you uneasy, Mr. Newman,” be- 
gan Mr. Penrith, “ but while the girls were singing I saw 
a boat in the shadow of the bank just below us. There 
were several men in it, and what I didn’t like about it 
was their trying to keep out of sight.” 

“ Oh, well, they may be from some camping party 
near by,” replied grandpa, “ and only wanted to hear 
the music without intruding. I don’t think there is 
any need to worry.” 

“Well, I’m a light sleeper and they couldn’t get 
very near us without my hearing them,” replied Mr. 
Penrith. 

Dannie had come down from the “ roof ” and hap- 
pened to overhear the conversation. 

“ My ! I wonder if they could be pirates ? ” he 
thought to himself, and decided that he, too, would be 
on the alert that night in case these mysterious men 
should endeavor to capture the “ Water Witch ” and 


3 ° 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

tow the craft away to unknown seas. He rather won- 
dered how Grandpa Newman could go to sleep so 
peacefully after Mr. Penrith’s warning ; but it was not 
very long before Dannie himself was sound asleep. He 
awoke suddenly. It sounded to him as if a number of 
soldiers were marching up and down the deck in front 
of the cabin. Then the noise ceased. Dannie lay 
staring into the darkness. Grandpa Newman was 
evidently sound asleep. There was no sound from the 
smaller cabin. 

“ I’ll bet somebody’s trying to get this boat,” decided 
Dannie, and he slid off his little cot, slipped on his 
clothing as noiselessly as possible that he might not dis- 
turb Mr. Newman, and crept carefully out on deck. 

Everything looked calm and peaceful. The stars 
shone brightly through the summer night. There was 
a soft fragrance from the pines, and for a moment 
Dannie thought he must have dreamed of the noise. 
Then something moved near the gangplank, and Dan- 
nie could make out a big, dark object huddled against 
the railing of the lower deck. 

“ I believe it’s two men,” he whispered to himself. 
“ I wish Mr. Penrith would wake up.” The small 
launch lay close beside the house-boat, and before Dan- 
nie could make up his mind how to let Mr. Penrith 


3i 


House-Boat Party 

know of this intruder, he heard him climbing up the 
side of the house-boat, and at the same moment the 
dark object near the rail began to move clumsily and 
came to its feet with a clattering noise such as had 
awakened Dannie. 

“ Look out, Mr. Penrith,” he called valiantly, “ it’s a 
bear ! ” 

Mr. Penrith swung his lantern around, and the bright 
light flashed full on their visitor, and he and Dannie 
exclaimed together : “ It’s a calf ! ” And sure enough, 
it proved to be a pretty brown calf, that had evidently 
wandered through the woods and come over the gang- 
plank on to the boat. 

Another light now shone out from the cabin door, 
and Grandpa Newman appeared just in time to see 
Mr. Penrith and Dannie cautiously persuading the calf, 
by various pushings, to return to the shore. A mo- 
ment later Mrs. Newman and Miss Abitha appeared, 
closely followed by all the girls except Lamb who slept 
through all the commotion. Their startled faces soon 
vanished in laughter, and with Miss Abitha’s exclama- 
tion that she was sure nothing more could happen 
until another day, the girls all hurried back to their 
berths. 

Dannie pointed out Orion to Captain Penrith, before 


32 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

returning to his bed, and that brave mariner listened 
admiringly. 

“ You’d learn navigation real easy, I can see that,” 
he said approvingly. 44 Sailormen always have to lay 
their course at sea by the stars,” he continued. “ I 
s’pose you know all about longitude and latitude ? ” 

44 No,” answered Dannie, a little mournfully, for he 
began to think that he could never learn half there was 
to know about the stars. 

44 Well,” began Captain Penrith thoughtfully, 44 I’ll 
tell you as nigh as I can. It’s one way of reckoning 
distance. Now in the United States we reckon dis- 
tance on the face of the globe from the meridians of 
Washington, Greenwich, and Paris. But if you was a 
sailorman and at sea you’d have to go by the heavenly 
bodies, and you’d reckon your distances according. 
You’d find your compass pointing right toward the 
North Star. You’d find out that your latitude is the 
distance north or south of the equator. I’ve known of 
captains who could lay their ships’ course by the stars 
just as straight and true as you’d lay out a highway on 
solid ground,” concluded Captain Penrith. 

44 I’m going to learn all I can about the stars,” re- 
plied Dannie, 44 because when I grow up that’s going to 
be my business, to know all about them.” 


33 


House-Boat Party 

“Well, you’ve got quite a job to ’tend to,” answered 
the captain, “ but if you stick to it I shouldn’t wonder 
if you did well; shouldn’t wonder a mite,” and he 
looked down kindly at the brave little figure beside 
him. 

“ Now we’d better get some sleep,” he said. “ I guess 
that calf won’t try to take any more voyages to-night,” 
and bidding Dannie good-night he returned to the 
launch. 

Dannie was not sleepy. The skies were clear and 
full of stars. He resolved that he would begin the very 
next day on a chart of the heavens. “ Perhaps I can 
help sailors by making charts,” he thought, and then 
Grandpa Newman’s voice was heard : “ Come, Dannie ; 
come to bed,” and the boy hurried to obey and was 
soon fast asleep. 

They were all up in good season the next morning 
and discussing the visit of the brown calf. 

“We didn’t really have any adventures yesterday,” 
said Lamb thoughtfully, as the six girls gathered on the 
promenade deck ; “ they were only accidents.” 

“ Dannie really had an adventure,” responded Con- 
stance, “ for he thought he was going on deck to face 
a band of pirates.” 

“ Grandpa Newman says there were some people in 


34 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

a boat right near the bank when we were singing last 
night, and Captain Penrith says that two boys, from 
farther down the river, came up early this morning in 
a rowboat to search for a brown calf.” 

“ Then there wasn’t anything to be afraid of,” said 
Myrtle, “ and I don’t believe there ever is. We just 
think up things, and that makes all the trouble.” 

“ Myrtle ! ” exclaimed Lamb suddenly, “ there’s some- 
thing I’d like to do while we are away on this trip ! ” 

“ What is it ? ” questioned Myrtle. 

“ Well, you know I keep thinking of how mean I was 
to the Glidden girls at school.” 

“ But it turned out all right, and we would do any- 
thing for the twins now, you know we would, Eunice,” 
responded Myrtle, almost reprovingly, for she felt that 
she had been equally to blame in the effort to keep the 
Glidden twins from study. 

Lamb shook her head. “ It isn’t being mean to the 
twins that I’m afraid of,” she said ; “ of course I couldn’t 
now, for they are my friends. But, you see, when I 
made the plan to get the prize away from Adrienne I 
didn’t care an} r thing about her ! ” 

“ Well ? ” questioned Myrtle. 

“ And now I like her ! ” and Lamb looked at Myrtle 
as if she had satisfactorily explained everything. 


House-Boat Party 35 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ Why, Myrtle Green ! I should think that you 
could understand ! I mean that while I am on this trip 
I want to learn why Rose Mason never does mean 
things to anybody. She is just as fair to girls she 
doesn’t know as she would be to us.” 

“ So is Constance ! ” declared Myrtle. 

“Yes, but she learned of Rose, you know she did. 
And all this trip I’m going to try and find out how to 
be fair to everybody.” 

“ I will, too,” promised Myrtle. “ I suppose if we 
remembered that everybody might be our friends when 
we knew them real well that that would help.” 

“Yes,” agreed Lamb, “I am sure it would. I sup- 
pose a good way is to act toward every other girl just 
as we would like to have them act toward us.” 

Myrtle looked at Lamb admiringly. “ Lamb New- 
man \ ” she exclaimed, “ I believe you are going to be 
just like Rose Mason.” 

“ I am going to try,” answered Lamb. 


CHAPTER IV 


ABOUT DANNIE 

“Where’s Miss Abitha ?” asked Adrienne Glidden, 
as she came up the steep stairs to the promenade deck 
and found the other girls busy in making plans for the 
day. 

u Oh, she is hearing Dannie recite his lessons,” an- 
swered Constance ; “ she really expects Dannie to dis- 
cern several new planets.” 

“Does the 4 Dannie Fund’ grow very rapidly?” 
asked Rose. For Miss Abitha had resolved that Dannie 
Woody ear should go to college, and had put her small 
savings in a box marked the “ Dannie Fund,” and it 
was that to which Rose now referred. 

“I don’t believe it does,” replied Constance. “I 
wish we could plan some way to help it along this 
summer.” 

“ I don’t see what we can do on a house-boat to earn 
money,” said Myrtle, 44 but we might ask your mother.” 

Rose volunteered to go in search of Mrs. Newman, 
and soon brought her up the steep stairs to the 44 roof.” 
Mrs. Newman listened as Constance explained that 
3 6 


37 


House-Boat Party 

they had been talking about Dannie Woodyear’s edu- 
cation, and how they would like to do something to 
add to Miss Abitha’s fund. 

“ Couldn’t we give an entertainment and charge ad- 
mission when we get to a town ? ” suggested Lamb. 

“ No, indeed ! ” promptly replied her mother. 

“I have thought of something,” said Antoinette 
Glidden. “ Don’t you remember that at school the 
teacher of botany was always wishing that she had 
this plant or that to show us so that we could under- 
stand our lessons better ? ” 

“ Yes,” responded the others. 

“Well, here we are right in the woods; your 
grandpa says we shall stop at islands further down : 
and we can get different plants and flowers at all these 
places and mount them carefully, and write out exactly 
what kind of places they grow in and all about them. 
I know Miss Wilson would be glad to buy them.” 

“We could make a number of sets and sell them to 
other schools,” said Myrtle. 

“ I think that is an excellent plan,” said Mrs. New- 
man approvingly, “ and I should think you might enjoy 
the work.” 

“ I am going to get leaves and blossoms from that 
thorn tree for my first specimen,” declared Lamb. 


38 Grandpa s Little Girls 

The house-boat was to stay at its present moorings 
for another day, and the girls prepared to start off 
in the woods in search of their specimens. Lamb and 
the Glidden twins were to go with Miss Abitha, who 
heard of their plan with approval, while Rose, Myrtle 
and Constance went with Mrs. Newman. 

Grandpa Newman and Mr. Penrith had taken the 
launch and gone across the river after fresh milk, and 
hoped to do a little fishing on the way home, so that 
Dannie was left to “keep ship.” 

He was copying an astronomical chart, and had 
spread out his paper on the smooth deck where he had 
plenty of room for his books and crayons, and was hap- 
pily oblivious of everything else. 

u On each broad shoulder a bright gem displayed / 9 

he repeated aloud as he drew in to the chart the 
“ mighty hunter,” Orion. So interested was he in his 
work that he did not notice the approach of a boat 
from further down the river, nor know when it came 
alongside the house-boat ; nor did he hear the men who 
came quietly on board. Had he looked up in time he 
might have jumped to his feet and escaped, but as he 
bent over his drawing lie was suddenly seized from be- 
hind, some soft material dropped over his face, shutting 


39 


House-Boat Party 

out the light, and was so twisted about his mouth that 
he could not call out, and, in an instant, it seemed to 
Dannie, he was rolled up like a bundle and carried into 
one of the cabins. 

“ Guess they’ll learn to leave somebody who has his 
eyes open next time,” he heard a gruff voice say. 

“ We’d better pick up what we can and get off,” said 
another voice. 

“ Nonsense,” replied the first ; “ the men have landed 
on the other side of the river. We can tow this craft 
around the point and they won’t find it for days. 
There’s food enough to keep us for weeks. We can 
keep her out of sight easy enough.” 

“ Tramps,” thought Dannie, and blamed himself bit- 
terly that he had not kept a sharp outlook. He could 
hear the men moving about on deck and on the shore, 
and in a short time realized that the house-boat was in 
motion. It did not move as steadily as when towed 
by the launch, and Dannie knew that the men were in 
the rowboat towing the craft. 

It seemed hours to the boy before the motion ceased, 
and he again heard the men on board. They did not 
come into the cabin. Dannie began to wonder what 
they would do with him. After a long time he heard 
steps near him and a voice said : “ I suppose we’ll have 


40 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

to undo this bundle and give it something to eat,” and 
a low chuckle followed the words. Then the long strip 
of bagging was unwound, the bandage taken from Dan- 
nie’s mouth, and he was set on his feet. He looked up 
at the two men valiantly. 

“ What did you do me up like that for ? ” he demanded. 

“Don’t ask any questions, young man,” responded 
the taller of the two men. “ If you’re hungry say so 
and we’ll give you a bite,” and Dannie saw that the 
table was covered with food from the supplies of the 
house-boat. He was hungry, and he ate what they 
handed him ; wondering all the time what he could do 
to save the boat and let Grandpa Newman know where 
it was. 

The two men ate greedily and silently, now and 

* then turning an inquiring look toward the boy. It 
was evident that they did not know what to do with 
him. Apparently they intended to treat him kindly. 

“ What are you going to do with this boat ? ” asked 
Dannie boldly as the men finished their meal. 

“ Never you mind,” said the tall man ; “ you’d better 

* be asking what we are going to do with you.” 

“ I thought that was all settled,” said the other, a" 
short heavy-browed individual whose blue eyes looked 
strangely out of place in his dark-skinned face ; 4 4 thought 


* 


4i 


House-Boat Party 

we was going to put him ashore here and let him find 
his way home if he was smart enough. It’s good 
summer weather and plenty of berries,” he added, as 
if expecting the taller man to object. 

“ All right. You can take this loaf of bread along 
and be off,” said the tall man ; “ you needn’t stop to bid 
us good-bye either, or we may change our minds,” and 
he led Dannie on deck, swung him over the railing, and 
Dannie found himself landed in a bunch of alders, with 
a loaf of bread in one hand. He scrambled up the 
steep bank and turned and looked back. For an in- 
stant he could not see the house-boat. It was drawn 
so closely into the wooded bank that the overhanging 
trees nearly hid it. A long point made out into the 
river just above, and Dannie at once realized what an 
excellent hiding-place had been chosen for the “Water 
Witch.” 

As nearly as he could judge it was about the middle 
of the afternoon. The sky had become overcast since 
morning, the sun could not be seen, and a damp wind 
came from the river. 

“ What will they do if it rains ? ” thought Dannie 
anxiously, remembering that there was no shelter near 
for Mrs. Newman and the other passengers of the 
house-boat. 


42 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“Step along,” called a voice below him. “Don’t 
stand np there another minute,” and Dannie obeyed 
promptly, and hurried off into the thick woods, not 
knowing what direction to take, but firmly resolved to 
find his way back to the place from which the house- 
boat had been stolen. 

The pirates had planned their visit at just the right 
time to carry off the house-boat successfully. Grandpa 
Newman and Mr. Penrith had landed on the opposite 
shore and were at the farmhouse, where they were pur- 
chasing milk and eggs, at the very moment when Dan- 
nie was seized. Mrs. Newman and the girls were not 
within hearing distance of the “ Water Witch,” and the 
men had time to tow the craft beyond the point spoken 
of before she was missed. They had pushed it into the 
mouth of a small creek, shaded by a thick overhanging 
growth of trees, and besides that they at once began to 
cut and break off thick branches which they fastened 
over the side of the boat toward the river so that it was 
almost covered. It would have taken sharp eyes to 
have found the “ Water Witch ” ; and when night came 
the two men went to sleep well assured that they would 
not be discovered. 

The clouds in the sky deepened, the wind grew 
stronger, and as night came on it began to rain. Dan- 


House-Boat Party 43 

nie struggled on through the underbrush and at last 
found himself in a small clearing. There was a low 
shed near the woods, built, perhaps, as a shelter for 
cattle, and the boy was glad enough to crouch under 
the leaky roof. He ate a part of his bread, and put 
the remainder inside his blouse to keep it dry. 

He did not sleep for a long time. The wind seemed 
to increase every hour, and Dannie thought about his 
good friends exposed to the storm and felt that it was 
his fault. “ I should have kept watch every minute,” 
he said over and over again. 

The men on board the “ Water Witch ” had made 
one mistake ; they had not fastened the boat carefully ; 
and as the wind increased and the rain swelled the cur- 
rent in the creek she pulled at her moorings, and finally 
broke loose and swung further out into the stream. So 
when they awakened at daybreak and came on deck 
they exclaimed in surprise and fear. The storm was 
over, the sun was shining, and the “Water Witch” 
was well out in the river in plain sight of both shores 
or of any craft coming up or down the stream. Beside 
this they saw a launch coming swiftly toward them, 
closely followed by a rowboat. The tramps did not 
stop to discuss their situation, but slid overboard and 
swam for the nearest shore. 


CHAPTER Y 


A NIGHT IN THE RAIN 

“ I guess my eyesight isn’t quite as good as it used 
to be,” said Grandpa Newman, as he and Mr. Penrith 
came down to the shore from the farmhouse with the 
supplies they had purchased. 

“ Well ! I’ve either lost my bearings altogether, or 
else the ‘ Water Witch ’ isn’t where we left her,” re- 
plied the captain of the launch, looking toward the op- 
posite shore with anxious eyes. 

“ I can’t make out a sign of her,” said Mr. Newman, 
hurrying toward the launch. “I’m afraid that we 
stayed too long at the farmhouse. She couldn’t have 
drifted out of sight in the time that we’ve been away.” 

“ No, sir, she couldn’t,” agreed the captain, “ and I 
believe somebody’s stolen her.” 

“ I hope they didn’t take Dannie,” said Mr. Newman. 

“ Most likely they would, sir. You see if they left 
him he could tell us just where to look for the boat.” 

As the two men discussed the situation they made 
ready the launch, and in a few minutes were steaming 

< 44 a 


House-Boat Party 45 

swiftly across the river toward the house-boat’s former 
moorings. 

They watched the shores closely on their passage 
over, but could see nothing to help them to decide 
where the “Water Witch ” had vanished. 

“ If she’s stolen, and it looks as if there wasn’t a 
doubt of that, the thieves would be more likely to go 
up-stream than down,” said Mr. Newman. 

Captain Penrith said nothing. He had not recovered 
from his surprise that a craft the size of the house-boat 
should disappear in two hours. 

“ You take the launch and cruise up-stream,” directed 
Mr. Newman, “ and I’ll look about the shore here, and 
be here when the girls get back.” 

“All right,” responded Captain Penrith, and the 
launch chugged cheerfully off up-stream at just about 
the time when the tramps were making the house-boat 
fast on the other side of the point. 

Miss Abitha’s party had had a most successful morn- 
ing. They had obtained a number of fine specimens of 
the cardinal flower, and the evening primrose, beside 
choice growths of different ferns, and a little vine with 
round glossy leaves and yellow blossoms, of which none 
of them knew the name. 

Kose had suggested that in addition to carefully 


46 Grandpa s Little Girls 

mounting and describing the plants and flowers that 
she and Constance should make careful drawings and 
studies in water colors. 

“ That will be just the thing,” declared Miss Abitha, 
“ and as soon as Lamb and I can get cameras again we 
will take photographs also. I believe the Neville 
High School would be glad of such a collection as this 
promises to be. Miss Wilson is sure to want one, and 
the ‘Dannie Fund’ will be in a flourishing con- 
dition.” 

The morning passed very happily, and it was noon 
before Mrs. Newman and the remainder of the party 
came out where they supposed the house-boat to be. 
Grandpa Newman was waiting for them, and quickly 
told them of its disappearance, and that he believed 
tramps had taken it. 

The launch soon came in sight, but Captain Penrith 
had no news to give. 

“ If we only knew that Dannie is all right it wouldn’t 
seem so dreadful,” said Miss Abitha. 

“They won’t dare hurt Dannie,” declared Grandpa 
Newman, “ and he’s a brave boy and a smart boy and 
will try and find some way of letting us know where 
the ‘ Water Witch ’ is.” 

It was the middle of the afternoon before any one of 


House-Boat Party 47 

the party remembered that they had not eaten since 
morning. 

“There’s plenty of milk and eggs, and a peck of 
potatoes in the launch,” Captain Penrith reminded 
them. “ I’ll build up a fire on these rocks and roast 
the potatoes, and you’ll all feel the better for a bite to 
eat.” 

While they were eating the hot potatoes Constance 
exclaimed : “ Look ! ” A rowboat with two boys in it 
was very near the launch. 

“ It’s the boys who came after the calf,” said Grandpa 
Newman, and went down to the shore to speak to 
them. 

“ Where’s your boat ? ” both the boys exclaimed, and 
before Mr. Newman could answer they began to ex- 
plain their errand. They said that their father had 
lost a good rowboat, and that two tramps had been 
camping on the shore near their farm, and their father 
believed they had taken it and had sent these boys to 
warn the people in the house-boat to look out for them. 

Before they had finished their story it began to rain ; 
and Grandpa Newman told them what had happened, 
and the boys said they would tell their father and all 
would do their best to find Dannie and the missing 
boat. 


48 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Captain Penrith had noticed the darkening sky, and 
while the others were eating the luncheon he prepared 
he had hurried toward the woods and now came back 
with an armful of boughs. 

“You must all come and help ; we have got to make 
a shelter,” he said ; “ it is setting in for a rainy night.” 

There was an axe and also a hand-saw on board the 
launch, and Grandpa Newman and Captain Penrith 
used these busily while the girls carried the brush to 
the spot selected for the shelter. It was a small group 
of pine trees, and Miss Abitha had already planted the 
larger boughs firmly in the earth between two of the 
small trees, so that one side of the brush house was 
begun. 

“Kun down to the launch and bring up the fish- 
lines, Eunice,” said Miss Abitha, and as soon as the 
little girl was back with the balls of strong cord Miss 
Abitha fastened one end to one tree as far up as she 
could reach, and then across to another tree which 
stood at right angles from it. When she had finished 
the lines outlined a rough square, and furnished a sup- 
port for the boughs that the others were bringing, so 
that it was possible to make a roof. When the men 
came hurrying to help with the building they declared 
it to be an excellent idea, and before the storm was 


49 


House-Boat Party 

really upon them a fairly dry shelter was provided. 
Captain Penrith brought up a big square of canvas 
from the launch and spread it over the boughs which 
formed the roof. There was not much room in the 
“ wigwam,” as Myrtle called it ; but Grandpa Newman 
and Captain Penrith had gone back to the woods to 
bring more brush to carpet the inside. 

It was a most uncomfortable night for all of them. 
Grandpa and Captain Penrith sheltered themselves on 
the launch as best they could, and they were all glad 
enough when the rain ceased, and the first signs of 
dawn began to show. 

Grandpa Newman was the first one to see the “ Water 
Witch ” drifting in the channel not a mile distant, and 
as the launch got up steam and started after her Con- 
stance called out : 

“See, grandpa, there is a rowboat going toward 
her.” 

It proved to be the farmer and his oldest son, and 
the launch and rowboat reached the house-boat just as 
the thieves were making their best effort to reach 
shore. 

“ Let them go,” said Grandpa Newman ; “ they are 
bound for the opposite shore, and we shan’t see them 
again.” 


5 ° 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

They looked the craft over carefully, but there was 
no trace of Dannie. The boat was not injured, al- 
though havoc had been made with its supplies ; and 
Captain Penrith declared he could soon have it as im- 
maculate as ever. 

The great thing now was to find Dannie, and as soon , 
as the “ Water Witch ” was safely fast at her old moor- 
ings, Grandpa Newman and the farmer and his son 
started along the shore, this time down-stream, in 
search of him. Captain Penrith was to stay with the 
“ Water Witch.” 

“They would set the boy ashore wherever they 
anchored,” declared the farmer, “ and we can find that 
place because that is where my boat probably is.” 

They were in the farmer’s boat, and as they rounded 
the long point the boy exclaimed, u There’s our big boat 
now,” and they could all see the missing boat fastened 
to a big oak tree whose boughs hung over the water. 

But even now there seemed to be no way to trace 
Dannie, even if they had known that the men had set 
him ashore at this point. Nevertheless they landed, 
and pushed forward into the underbrush. Fortunately 
they chose the same direction that Dannie had taken, 
and soon came to the same little clearing. 

“ Perhaps he’s in the shack ! ” suggested the farmer’s 


House-Boat Party 51 

boy, and at that very instant a small figure appeared in 
the open door of the rough shelter. 

“That’s Dannie!” exclaimed Mr. Newman thank- 
fully, and hurried forward. 

“ Oh, Mr. Newman,” faltered Dannie, as he saw his 
good friend again, “ I let those men steal your house- 
boat.” 

“ I don’t believe you let them, Dannie,” responded 
Grandpa Newman. “ I guess you couldn’t help your- 
self.” 

“ No, sir, I couldn’t,” said Dannie, looking up with 
grateful eyes toward the kind face bent toward him, 
and he speedily told the story of his own capture, and 
of the men putting him on shore ; and listened eagerly 
to Mr. Newman’s description of finding the house- 
boat. 

On board the “ Water Witch ” everybody was busy 
that morning, and when Grandpa Newman and Dan- 
nie appeared there was a chorus of delighted voices to 
welcome them. There was a pleasing fragrance of fried 
bacon in the air, and it was a hungry and happy party 
that gathered at the long table for the breakfast, which 
Captain Penrith said was luncheon as well, for it was 
just the hour of noon. 

“ There ! We have all had real adventures this time,” 


52 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

declared Eunice in so pleased a voice that they all 
laughed. 

“ I should think you thought losing Dannie and the 
house-boat, and sleeping out in the rain was fun,” said 
her sister. 

“ Well, it has all come out right, so we might as well 
think that way as not,” replied Lamb ; “ anyway, no 
one can deny that it has been a real adventure. It was 
just like being captured by pirates.” 


CHAPTER VI 


A YOUNG HEROINE 

When the house-boat left “ Pirate’s Landing,” as the 
girls had named the place of their adventures, and 
moved slowly down the stream, Grandpa Newman told 
his passengers that their next stopping-place would be 
some famous mounds, or shell-heaps, near the mouth of 
the river. The girls were all looking forward to this 
stop, as they had often heard Miss Abitha tell of the 
wonderful mounds, many feet in height, which had 
been found on the banks of the river by the earliest ex- 
plorers of the Maine Coast. 

Dannie was in the launch with Captain Penrith, 
Grandpa Newman was steering the house-boat, and 
Mrs. Newman and Miss Abitha were talking together 
on the lower deck, while the six girls were on “ the 
roof,” as they liked to call the promenade deck. Rose 
Mason was busy making a water-color sketch of the 
cardinal flower, and close beside her sat Constance and 
Adrienne Glidden mounting ferns and delicate vines on 
firm cardboard. Lamb, Myrtle and Antoinette were 
leaning over the railing at the bow. 

53 


54 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“It’s lovely,” exclaimed Antoinette, dreamily, look- 
ing toward the wooded shores as the house-boat moved 
steadily down the broad river. “ I think a house on 
the river is a lot nicer than a house on land.” 

“ So do I,” agreed Myrtle enthusiastically. “ Just 
think, whichever way we look we see something new and 
beautiful. And Miss Abitha says that at the mouth of 
the river, where the islands are, it is even more lovely.” 

“We will be in sight of the shell-heaps by noon,” 
said Lamb, “ and grandpa says we will stay near there 
for several days.” 

“ What is Dannie doing ? ” exclaimed Myrtle, who 
had been watching the launch intently ; “ it looks as if 
he were half overboard. Look ! Look ! He is over- 
board, and Mr. Penrith doesn’t know it.” 

At Myrtle’s exclamation the girls all sprang to their 
feet. 

“ Miss Abitha ! Miss Abitha ! ” screamed Lamb, 
“ Dannie’s overboard.” 

Constance realized what had happened instantly, and, 
while the other girls were calling for Miss Abitha and 
Mrs. Newman she had slipped off her blue serge skirt, 
kicked off her shoes, and Avas down the steep ladder 
and running toward the bow of the house-boat. She 
knew that Dannie could not swim, and that there was 







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THERE WAS NO TIME TO LOSE 
































































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House-Boat Party 55 

no time to lose. She could see Dannie’s head as he 
came to the surface, and, poising herself carefully on 
the rail she took a long, full breath and dived. 

Miss Abitha and Mrs. Newman came out from the 
cabin just as Constance’s slender figure sprang into the 
air, and a moment later the girls were on the lower 
deck telling the story. 

“ It’s all right, Constance is sure to get him,” said 
Miss Abitha ; “ she is a strong swimmer. Look, she has 
him now.” 

All eyes were eagerly fixed on the brave girl who 
had come up beside the struggling boy and was now 
holding his head above water. Grandpa Newman had 
quickly signaled Captain Penrith to stop the launch, 
and before Constance was at all tired he guided the 
launch close beside her and lifted Dannie in. Constance 
quickly followed him, laughing at Captain Penrith’s 
exclamations of fear and praise. 

“ I never saw a real sailorman do a thing like that,” 
he declared admiringly. 

“ Oh, that’s what we learn to do at school,” replied 
Constance. “Miss Abitha always told us not to be 
frightened at any accident, but always be ready to 
help. How are you, Dannie?” For Dannie was 
puffing and spluttering like a young grampus. 


56 Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

“ I’m going to learn to swim, right off,” declared the 
boy. “ I’d have been drowned in another minute if 
you hadn’t caught me,” and he looked at Constance as 
if he thought she was the most wonderful person in 
the world. 

Constance laughed again. “ Well, I’m glad we saw 
you just as we did,” she replied, “ and I had a splendid 
swim. I think we’ll all jump overboard now and then, 
just for the fun of it.” 

Captain Penrith shook his head solemnly. “Not 
without your grandpa’s knowledge and consent,” he 
said. 

By this time the launch was close beside the house- 
boat, and as Constance climbed on board her mother’s 
arms clasped her closely, and Constance wondered why 
her mother’s eyes were wet. 

“ You dear, brave child,” exclaimed Mrs. Newman. 

Then all the girls were around her, and all praising 
her courage and presence of mind. It was Miss Abitha 
who remembered her wet clothes and sent her off to 
put on dry ones. Dannie had lost no time in getting 
into dry clothing, and when Constance came out of her 
cabin he was waiting for her. His face was flushed 
and rosy and he stammered a little when he began to 
speak. 


57 


House-Boat Party 

“ You — you — you were awful good to jump in the 
water after me,” he said. “ Captain Penrith says that 
you saved my life. I wanted to tell you that I’d do 
anything for you.” 

Constance smiled at the little boy’s earnest face. 

“That’s all right, Dannie,” she said. “The first 
thing you can do for me is to learn to swim ; then 
when you tumble overboard you’ll enjoy it and not be 
frightened at all. Get Captain Penrith to teach you.” 

“Yes, I’m going to learn right away,” declared the 
boy ; and he thought to himself that when he grew up 
and discovered new stars and planets that one of them 
should be named “ Constance.” 

“ How did it happen that you got overboard, 
Dannie?” Grandpa Newman asked. 

“ My fish-line got caught on the side of the boat, and 
I was leaning over to unfasten it,” explained the boy. 

“ You are a real heroine, Sister,” declared Lamb, as 
she sat down close beside Constance on the upper 
deck. “ Why, when we saw what you were going to 
do we just held our breath in wonder, didn’t we, 
girls ? ” 

“ Nonsense,” laughed Constance. “ I just happened 
to think what to do before the rest of you did ; that’s 
aU.” 


58 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ I’m not so sure but that is what makes heroism,” 
said Miss Abitha quietly, “ to think quickly and to act 
on the thought.” 

“ Suppose we had all thought to jump overboard, it 
would have been like a flight of gulls,” said Myrtle 
laughingly. 

“Well, I know grandpa is just as proud as he can 
be,” said Lamb. “ I can see he is by the way he 
watches Constance.” 

Miss Abitha looked at Mrs. Newman and smiled, for 
they both felt that Constance deserved all the praise 
that her companions were so ready to give her. 

Dannie was now back on the launch with Captain 
Penrith and listening to some excellent advice. 

“ You sit where I can keep an eye on you after this,” 
said the captain warningly. “ I feel considerable 
ashamed that I didn’t pull you out of the river myself ; 
but you were so far aft, and I was so took up with my 
engine, that I didn’t know you was overboard.” 

Dannie carefully obeyed, and seated himself so near 
to the captain that he was within reach of his arm in 
case of accident. 

“ I consider it a first-rate plan for girls to learn to 
swim,” continued Captain Penrith ; “ as I look at it, it’s 
more important to swim than to speak a foreign lan- 


59 


* House-Boat Party 

guage. Now just as soon as we come to a good moor- 
ing I’ll show you just what to do in case you tumble in 
again.” 

“ Thank you,” said Dannie, but he resolved to him- 
self that he would not tumble in again. 

It was a little before noon when the launch began to 
draw nearer the left bank of the river, and the house- 
boat party saw the big white shell-heaps very clearly. 

“They look like white cliffs,” said Eose Mason. 
“We must get Miss Abitha to tell us how they came 
here.” 

The house-boat was moored a short distance from the 
bank, on account of the shallowness of the water. 
Mrs. Newman said they would have luncheon on board 
and then go on shore for an exploring expedition. The 
shell-heaps were to be visited, the girls wanted to look 
for new plants and blossoms, and they were all sure 
that there would be a good deal of pleasure and inter- 
est in this landing. 


CHAPTEE VII 


THE WAWENOCKS 

Early in the afternoon Captain Penrith took them 
all ashore in the launch. “ The house-boat will be per- 
fectly safe here,” said Grandpa Newman. “ We can 
see it plainly from the shore ; and besides that there are 
houses in sight on both sides of the river, so that tramps 
could not get to the boat without being seen.” 

The fields sloped down gently to the shore at this 
place so that the mounds of white shells rose up like 
miniature cliffs. There was a wooded sheltered back- 
ground, and as Miss Abitha told them something of the 
history of the mounds, the girls all declared that it was 
just the place for the big clambakes and oyster feasts 
that must have been held there by the tribes of Indians 
who formerly inhabited those shores. 

“ Some of these are oyster shells, and big ones, too,” 
said Grandpa Newman, picking up a shell several inches 
in circumference, “ but I’d like to know where they 
found the oysters. There isn’t an oyster bed on the 
coast of Maine now.” 


60 


House-Boat Party 61 

“Just see, the shells are in regular layers,” said Eose, 
“ and there seems to be charcoal all among them.” 

“ Eemnants of old fires,” said Mrs. Newman. “ I sup- 
pose generation after generation came here at certain 
times in the year to feast on oysters, clams and lobsters. 
When the first white men landed here, in 1614, these 
shell-heaps were here then.” 

“ What was the name of the tribes who used to live 
here ? ” asked Myrtle. 

“ The Indian inhabitants of Maine were divided into 
two great confederacies, ” said Grandpa Newman ; “ each 
confederacy included a number of tribes. The tribe 
which inhabited this district were the Wawenocks, and 
they belonged to the Confederacy of the Etechemins. 
This place was a great centre for the Wawenocks. 
You see it is a southern slope to the river, well shel- 
tered in the background by woods. There are clam 
flats near by, and just beyond the islands, at the mouth 
of the river, are harbors and fine fishing grounds. So 
they could gather here and fish and feast and enjoy life.” 

“ Why can’t we have a clambake here, just as the 
Indians used to ? ” asked Lamb eagerly. 

“ You can, just as well as not ; that is, if your mother 
says so,” replied Captain Penrith. “ I can get a fine 
basket of clams just beyond that point when the tide 


62 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

goes out, and I should admire to cook them just as the 
Indians used to.” 

Mrs. Newman said she thought it would be an ex- 
cellent plan, and it was settled that on the next day they 
should have a clambake near the old Indian shell-heaps. 

“ What does 4 Wawenock ’ mean ? ” Constance asked. 

“ It means 4 very brave,’ 4 fearing nothing,’ ” an- 
swered grandpa. 

44 You are a Wawenock, Sister,” declared Lamb, 44 for 
you are not afraid of anything.” 

44 They were a very good people,” continued Grandpa 
Newman ; 44 not only were they brave and fearless, but 
they were naturally a people opposed to war ; and 
would not have fought against the whites had not other 
tribes persuaded them. A number of this tribe were 
captured by one of the early explorers and taken to 
England. They were, however, well cared for, and in 
due time sent back to their own people.” 

44 There’s a queer thing to be seen on one of the 
islands down here,” said Captain Penrith, 44 and that 
is those cooking-pots that were cut out of the ledges. 
They are of good size and fairly deep.” 

44 How could they cook in holes and ledges ? ” asked 
Lamb. 

44 1 reckon ’twas pretty simple cooking,” replied 


House-Boat Party 63 

Captain Penrith. “ I've been told that they would fill 
these pot holes with water and then put in their veg- 
etables, corn, or whatever they had, and meat, like as 
not, and then chuck in red-hot stones and the heat from 
these would do the cooking.” 

“ Will we land at that island ? ” asked Myrtle. 

“Yes, indeed,” said Grandpa Newman, “we must 
see all that we can of these historic places. You know 
Captain John Smith, of Virginia, whose life was saved 
by an Indian girl, used to cruise along these shores. 
He built several vessels on one of the islands, and he 
had a good word to say for the Indians.” 

“ I have thought of something ! ” declared Antoinette 
Glidden so earnestly that the others began laughing at 
her serious face. 

“ Tell us what it is ? ” suggested Rose Mason. 

“ Not if I am going to be laughed at,” said Antoi- 
nette, smilingly, “ but I think it would be fine if this 
house-boat party could be a tribe and call themselves 
the ‘ Wawenocks.’ ” 

“ The Wawenocks were known as a very handsome 
people,” said Miss Abitha so solemnly that they all 
laughed again. 

“That’s a good idea, Antoinette,” said Constance, 
“ and didn’t every tribe have a chief ? ” 


64 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ Yes,” responded Miss Abitha, “ the chief was sup- 
posed to be the bravest Indian of them all. And it 
was his duty to see that his tribe were well provided 
with food, that each one did his part in providing for 
all, and if any trouble came up it was the chief who 
was expected to settle it wisely and with justice to all.” 

“ Let’s elect our chief now,” said Antoinette ; “ let’s 
have Constance Newman for chief.” 

There was a chorus of approval at this suggestion ; 
but it took some persuasion to convince Constance that 
she wanted the honorable position. 

“ I think that Captain Penrith ought to be chief,” 
she said ; “ he is the one who has to provide things for 
us to eat, and select our camps, and pilot our boat. 
How could I look after a tribe?” But at last she 
agreed to accept the proud position of “ Chief of the 
Wawenocks.” 

“ Didn’t the Indians have war dances when they 
elected a chief ? ” asked Myrtle. 

“ Not the Wawenocks,” replied Grandpa Newman. 

“We might have a 4 Peace Dance,’” suggested Miss 
Abitha ; “ this field is full of daisies, and if I were chief 
of this tribe I should command my faithful braves to 
gather as many daisies as possible and weave garlands 
for their chief.” 


House-Boat Party 65 

The “ braves ” did not wait for their chief to com- 
mand, but all hurried off and soon returned with big 
bunches of daisies. These, under Miss Abitha’s direc- 
tions, they wove into garlands and chains. The largest 
garland was slipped over Constance’s head by Antoi- 
nette who announced : “ With this garland I crown 
thee Wawenock, chief of our tribe.” 

Miss Abitha, Mrs. Newman, Grandpa Newman, Cap- 
tain Penrith, and Dannie, as well as all the girls, were 
furnished with wreaths of daisies. The long daisy 
chain was laid loosely about the shoulders of each one, 
except Constance. Then they formed in a circle and 
danced slowly about her until she ran between Lamb 
and Myrtle, seizing their hands, and joining in the dance. 

“Now you are really a chief,” declared Lamb, “and 
whatever you tell us to do that we must do.” 

“ The tribe can have council meetings if their chief 
is not fair,” said Miss Abitha, who seemed very well 
posted in tribal customs. 

“ I guess we’d better be getting back to the boat,” 
suggested Captain Penrith ; “ we’re near enough to the 
ocean to notice the tide along here ; it’s beginning to 
ebb, and the water isn’t none too deep as it is.” 

So they all went through the field to the shore, tak- 
ing their daisy garlands with them, and were soon on 


66 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

board the “Water Witch.” It was nearly sunset, and 
when Captain Penrith called them to supper they all 
declared that it had been the most pleasant day of the 
voyage. 

After supper Captain Penrith and Dannie took the 
small rowboat, and with a big basket and a clam-fork, 
which Captain Penrith had on the launch, they started 
for the flats beyond the point, where they could pro- 
cure the clams for the next day’s feast. 

“We must write Grandma Newman a letter to- 
night,” suggested Grandpa Newman. “ I can take it 
over to a village near here and mail it ; she will want 
to hear all about our voyage.” 

The girls all wanted to write, and it was rather a 
bulky envelope which Grandpa Newman sealed and 
directed to Pine Tree Farm. 

The summer evening was fading into darkness when 
Dannie and Captain Penrith returned. The big basket 
was full of fine clams, and all the party looked forward 
eagerly to the next day’s feast on the old camping 
ground of the Wawenocks. 

“ Just think, Constance, of all that has happened,” 
said Lamb, as the two sisters went to bed that night ; 
“ you have saved Dannie’s life, and have been elected 
chief of a tribe.” 


House-Boat Party 67 

“ Nonsense,” murmured Constance sleepily. “ It’s 
much more important that we are going to have a clam- 
bake to-morrow.” 

“ Why, Constance Newman ! ” exclaimed Lamb re- 
proachfully, and then all was quiet in the cabin. Noth- 
ing could be heard except the little lap, lap, of the 
water against the sides of the house-boat, and now and 
then the call of some night-loving bird from the shore. 


CHAPTER VIII 


AN OLD FRIEND APPEARS 

“ Who wants to go on a search for a village ? ” 
asked Grandpa Newman on the morning of the day set 
for the clambake. “ I must discover a post-office so 
that the people at Pine Tree Farm may hear from us.” 

“ I have written to Elinor Perry and I want to mail 
that,” said Eunice. 

“ And I have written to Clare Seymour,” said Con- 
stance. 

Elinor and Clare were two of the pupils at Miss 
Wilson’s school ; Elinor and Eunice were both interested 
in photography ; and, after many misunderstandings, 
Constance and Clare had become friends. 

“ Well,” said Mrs. Newman, “ I suppose that means 
that you both want to go with your grandpa. Who 
else wants to go ? ” 

“ I do,” declared Myrtle, and in a few moments 
Captain Penrith had set them ashore, and they were 
walking through the field up a foot-path which Grandpa 
Newman was sure led to a road. 

The path came out near a farmhouse which faced on 
68 


House-Boat Party 69 

a broad, well- traveled road. A pleasant-faced man was 
at work in a flower-garden near the house. 

He nodded smilingly as the little party came near. 

“ I reckon you folks are from the house-boat ? ” he said. 
“ I tell you our folks were some surprised to see a craft 
of that build coming down the river. We look to see 
most anything come up from the islands and coast, but 
most of the shipping from up-river is sloops and cat- 
boats.” 

Grandpa Newman told the farmer about the “ Water 
Witch,” and the man seemed so much interested that 
Mr. Newman invited him to join them on their return 
from the village and go on board. 

“ That will be complete ! ” declared the farmer. “ My 
name is Perry, Silas Perry, and we’ve got a niece here 
on a visit ; she came last night. I should say she was 
about the age of this little girl,” and he nodded toward 
Eunice, “ and if you have no objections I should ad- 
mire to bring her along. She’s up in the pasture with 
her aunt just now.” 

“We will be glad to see your niece,” responded 
Grandpa Newman cordially ; “ we are going to have a 
clambake on the shore, and I am sure the girls would all 
be very happy to have your little guest stay and have 
clams with us.” 


7 ° 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ Yes, indeed,” said Constance ; “ tell her to be sure and 
plan to stay as long as she can.” 

Mr. Perry seemed greatly pleased by the invitation, 
and pointed out the direction of the post-office. 

“ It ain’t quite a mile,” he said, “ and it’s shady and 
pleasant all the way, and a straight road.” 

“ W on’t it seem queer to have a new girl whom we 
never saw or heard of ? ” said Myrtle, as they walked 
along. “ I wonder what she will be like ? ” 

“ She will probably feel a little strange and fright- 
ened among so many strangers, so we must all do our 
best to help her feel at home and among friends.” 

“ Yes, oh, chief ! ” replied Lamb. 

“ Perhaps she will want to join the Wawenocks,” 
suggested Grandpa Newman. 

The girls all looked sober at this. 

“ ¥e couldn’t let her ! ” declared Lamb ; “ could we, 
chief ? ” 

“I should have to call a council of the tribe,” an- 
swered Constance so seriously that they all laughed. 

It was not long before they found themselves near- 
ing the little group of houses which formed the village. 
They passed the blacksmith shop, where a horse was 
being shod ; the schoolhouse, with its neat yard and 
flag-pole, the village church Avith its tall spire, and then 


House-Boat Party 7 1 

came to a weather-worn building where the sign “ Post- 
Office ” was displayed. 

Grandpa Newman dropped his letter into the box, 
and Constance mailed her letter to Clare. 

“ Oh, dear ! ” exclaimed Eunice, who had been search- 
ing her pocket, and even looking in her hat, “ I have 
lost my letter to Elinor.” 

“ You can write another to-night,” said Con- 
stance. 

“ It will be too late,” wailed Eunice, “ for she is go- 
ing away on a visit and I don’t know where.” 

The letter could not be found, so they started on their 
way back, each one looking along the road for some 
sign of the lost missive. 

When they came in sight of the farmhouse again, 
Constance stopped suddenly. 

“ Look ! ” she exclaimed, “ if that strange girl isn’t 
running to meet us. I can tell you we won’t have her 
in our tribe. The idea of a strange ” 

But she was interrupted by an exclamation from 
Eunice, and by seeing her start toward the stranger as 
fast as she could run. 

“ Call Lamb back, grandpa,” she said earnestly. 
“ Why, Myrtle Green ! ” for Myrtle, too, had rushed 
after Lamb ; and a moment later, Constance saw Lamb 


72 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

and Myrtle and the strange girl with their arms about 
each other and talking like old friends. 

“Well ! ” exclaimed Constance, “ I call that being a 
little too friendly with a girl you never saw before. 
Why!” and without a word of explanation to her 
bewildered grandfather Constance left him and ran 
swiftly toward the other girls. 

“Well! Well!” said Grandpa Newman, as he fol- 
lowed more slowly, “ it looks to me as if there was a 
surprise in this. I wonder what it is ? ” 

“ Grandpa ! Grandpa ! ” exclaimed Lamb, as he 
drew near the group, “who do you suppose the 
farmer’s niece is? It’s our dear Elinor Perry.” 

“ Well ! Well ! ” said Grandpa Newman again, with 
as much surprise as the girls could hope for. 

“And she found my letter to her right beside the 
fence, and so she knew all about us. Isn’t it lovely ? ” 

Mr. Silas Perry came to meet them. He seemed to 
be as pleased as the rest of the party were ; and when 
they reached the farmhouse Mrs. Perry was standing 
at the door, and was introduced to them all by 
Elinor. 

“ I call this real fortunate,” said Mrs. Perry. “ We 
were afraid Elinor would be lonesome here at first, but 
now she is sure to have a nice time.” 


House-Boat Party 73 

“ Yes, indeed,” said Lamb ; “ we’ll stay at this place 
a week, won’t we, grandpa ? ” 

“ Of course we will,” agreed Grandpa Newman heart- 
ily, “ but I expect we must be going toward the shore now, 
for Captain Penrith will want to begin to cook the clams.” 

Mrs. Perry was persuaded to go with them, and as 
they walked down through the field they could see 
that the rest of the party had landed, and that Captain 
Penrith and Dannie were busy on the shore making 
ready a place for the fire. 

There were more exclamations of surprise when Rose 
and the Glidden twins saw their visitor, and it was a 
very happy part}'' of girls which gathered near the 
Indian shell-heaps. 

“ I do think Elinor ought to be taken into the tribe,” 
said Lamb. 

“ Of course she should,” agreed Rose. 

“ I suppose we should have a council meeting to act 
on it,” said Adrienne. 

“ I appoint Antoinette Glidden and Myrtle Green to 
summon the Wawenocks to a council meeting, to be 
held near the shell-heaps directly after the clambake,” 
announced Constance ; and Myrtle and Antoinette rose 
to their feet, bowed low before their chief, and started 
out on their mission. 


74 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

“I reckon you’ll have to manage without me,” 
Captain Penrith declared ; “ that’ll be a time when I 
shall be too busy with my dishes to attend a council 
meeting,” but the other “ braves ” said that they would 
be present, and Miss Abitha asked the favor of a few 
words in private with the chief. 

“ We ought to have some very impressive ceremony 
when we take a new member into the tribe,” she said, 
as she and Constance walked a little way from the 
others. 

“ Of course we should,” agreed the chief, “ but I am 
sure I don’t know what tribes do.” 

“We will have to think up something,” said Miss 
Abitha ; “ of course we don’t want another peace dance, 
but we might have a procession.” 

The two talked busily together for some moments, 
and when they returned to the group Constance an- 
nounced that each member of the tribe was to go to 
the woods and bring all the ferns he or she could find. 
They promptly obeyed, Grandpa Newman and his 
daughter leading the way. It was not long before 
they returned with armfuls of feathery green ferns, 
which they placed carefully at Constance’s feet. 

Captain Penrith now called out that the clams were 
ready, and that each one must come and help himself. 


15 


House-Boat Party 

So they all hurried down to the shore. The clams had 
been cooked by first building a fire on the shore until 
the rocks were hot, then the clams, covered with rock- 
weed, were piled up on the hot rocks, and now were 
perfectly cooked and ready to eat. Captain Penrith 
had provided dishes of melted butter and plates of 
crackers, and when Miss Abitha declared that she was 
thirsty Dannie brought her a glass of cool lemonade. 

“ I guess the Indians didn’t have crackers and butter 
and lemonade,” Dannie said as he sat down close 
beside Grandpa Newman. 

“ I don’t suppose they did, Dannie,” replied Grandpa 
Newman, “ but we can see that they had excellent 
appetites by looking at those shell-heaps.” 

The Wawenocks assembled in front of one of the 
mounds as soon as they had finished their luncheon. 
Grandpa Newman and his daughter were excused from 
the council meeting, and took Mr. and Mrs. Perry on 
board the “ Water Witch ” to show them how con- 
venient and comfortable a house built on a boat 
could be. 

The chief of the tribe and Elinor Perry went a little 
distance away from the others and sat down in the 
shade of a broad -spreading beech-tree. 

“ Now, girls,” said Miss Abitha, picking up a hand- 


76 Grandpa s Little Girls 

ful of the feathery ferns, “ your chief has decided that it 
is fitting for us all to wear head-dresses of feathers, and 
these are the feathers. Come here, Lamb, and I will 
arrange your head-dress.” 

“ I will do yours, Kose,” volunteered Myrtle, and in 
a short time a circle of nodding ferns surrounded each 
head. Ferns were fastened about their shoulders and 
skirts, and as they advanced, Indian file, and bowed 
before their chief they made a very pretty picture. 

As they bowed each member of the tribe laid a 
handful of ferns on Constance’s lap. Then they sur- 
rounded Elinor, fastening ferns in her hair and about 
her dress, and then led her to bow before the chief. 

“ Does this new brave know the meaning of Wawen- 
ock ? ” questioned Constance. 

“ I do, oh, chief,” replied Elinor. 

Do you promise to be brave, to avoid quarrels and 
to live in peace with other tribes?” continued the 
chief. 

Elinor bowed low, and again responded : 

“ I do, oh, chief.” 

“ Then, with the consent of the tribe, I pronounce 
you a Wawenock,” declared Constance. 

“ What lovely things happen,” said Lamb, as she and 
Elinor again talked over the surprise of seeing each 



THEY ADVANCED, INDIAN FILE 






























































House-Boat Party 77 

other. “Just think of our sailing right up to your 
uncle’s farm.” 

“ Do you think your mother will let you go back to 
the farm and stay all night ? ” asked Elinor. “ My 
aunt said she would ask her.” 

“ Oh, I hope she will,” said Lamb. 

Mrs. Newman agreed to the plan, and late in the 
afternoon the Perrys said good-bye to the house-boat 
party, and, accompanied by Eunice, went across the 
field to the farm. 

“I am so glad that you are going to stay here a 
week,” said Elinor. “ I have my camera and we will 
take photographs of the Wawenocks and of the shell- 
mounds. And Aunt Perry says she can show us where 
to find sea-moss.” 

“ I am glad, too,” responded Lamb. “ Do you know, 
Elinor, I have made up my mind to try and be like 
my sister Constance and Rose Mason ! ” 

“ Why, of course ! ” answered Elinor, as if she sup- 
posed Lamb would naturally have that ambition. 

“ I believe I have found out one reason why they 
always do the right thing,” said Lamb thoughtfully, 
but Elinor did not ask the reason, and the two little 
girls went quietly on across the pleasant fields and 
were soon at the farmhouse gate. 


CHAPTER IX 


HAPPY DAYS 

On the morning of the walk to the post-office, Rose 
and Miss Abitha had walked along the shore to the 
point near where Captain Penrith and Dannie had dug 
the clams. Here on the slope of a ledge Miss Abitha 
had discovered some of the vine-like sea-mosses which 
cling to the rough surfaces of ledges washed by the 
tide. 

“This will be a valuable part of your collec- 
tion,” said Miss Abitha, “if it is prepared care- 
fully.” 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Rose eagerly. “Just see the 
delicate purples and rose tints in that bit floating in the 
water. To-morrow Constance and I will come over 
and get some.” So on the day after the clambake the 
two girls were set ashore and made their way to the 
point. 

“ I don’t think this is very pretty,” said Constance, 
holding up a mass of gray, slimy moss. 

“ It will be, Constance, as soon as it is cleansed of the 
78 


79 


House-Boat Party 

sand and when it is properly prepared and mounted. 
Put it in the basket. I know all the girls will want 
to help prepare it, so we will wait until Eunice and 
Elinor come down this afternoon,” said Rose. 

It did not take long to gather quite a quantity of the 
moss. Constance did not understand how it could be 
beautiful until Kose pointed out a bit floating in one of 
the little pools on the shore. 

“ There ! ” she said ; “ now you can see that it is as 
lovely as any flower.” 

“ But that is in water.” 

“ Wait till you see it on paper,” responded Rose. 

Eunice and Elinor returned to the house-boat in time 
for luncheon. Captain Penrith and Grandpa Newman 
had been busy during the morning putting an awning 
over the promenade deck. 

“ IPs more like a house than ever,” said Antoinette 
admiringly. 

When Captain Penrith called them to luncheon there 
was a pleasant chorus of exclamations, for he had set 
the table on what Eunice called the “back porch.” 
This was the lower deck just aft of the cabins. 

“ It’s just like eating out-of-doors,” said Dannie. 

“ Why can’t we have all our meals here on pleasant 
days ? ” suggested Mrs. Newman. 


8o 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ You can, ma’am, if you say the word,” said Captain 
Penrith ; so it was decided that after this the “ back 
porch ” should be the dining-room. 

Directly after luncheon Rose and Constance carried 
their basket of sea-mosses to the upper deck. Mrs. 
Newman had purchased a number of folding tables as 
a part of the house-boat’s equipment and these were 
now put in place on the upper deck for the girls’ use. 
Each girl secured a tin pan or basin from Captain Pen- 
rith, according to Miss Abitha’s directions, and filled it 
with water ; and she also gave them each a dozen squares 
of coarse brown wrapping-paper. Then, seating her 
self at the table with the Glidden twins, she began to 
show them how to prepare the sea-moss. 

“Look,” she said, lifting a bit from one of the 
baskets, “ each one of you take several pieces of moss 
and put it all in your pan of water. Let it float there 
for a few moments, till it clears itself of sand. Re- 
member it is very delicate and must be handled most 
carefully. As soon as a piece is clear and clean spread 
it out on one of these brown paper squares.” 

“ Is that all there is to it ? ” asked Myrtle in a dis- 
appointed voice. 

“No, that is the beginning,” replied Miss Abitha 
smilingly, “ but beginnings are very important things. 


House-Boat Party 81 

And it is important that the moss should be spread out 
carefully and delicately, and then that another square 
of brown paper should be laid over it. The brown 
paper absorbs the moisture.” 

Just then Dannie appeared at the head of the stair- 
way, pulling a heavy basket after him. He had been 
ashore in the small rowboat and picked up a basketful 
of smooth, flat rocks. He set the basket down beside 
Miss Abitha. 

“ These were the very best I could find,” he said. 

“ They are just right,” said Miss Abitha, and Dannie 
hurried off to help Captain Penrith. 

“ What are you going to do with those rocks, Miss 
Abitha ? ” asked Elinor Perry. 

“ As soon as you have spread out three or four bits 
of moss you must put a weight on the top bit of paper,” 
explained Miss Abitha ; “ that will keep them in place, 
and make it easier to mount them.” 

“ I thought this was mounting them,” said Lamb. 

“ This is just getting ready ; to-morrow or next day 
will be the time to mount them.” 

The girls all became much interested in the work. 
The moss as it floated in the clear water showed many 
delicate colors and shades, and they all declared it to 
be the most interesting part of preparing their flower 


82 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

collection. Rose was to write out a description of the 
moss, telling where it was found, and Miss Abitha 
promised to add its scientific names. 

“ My ! ” exclaimed Elinor Perry suddenly, jumping 
up from her seat, “I promised Aunt Perry that you 
would all come home with me about four o’clock this 
afternoon and stay to tea. You will, won’t you ? ” 

The girls all turned toward Mrs. Newman, who was 
helping Constance with her moss. Mrs. Newman 
nodded smilingly. “ Of course you girls can all go,” 
she said, “ and I am sure your aunt is very kind, Elinor, 
to ask us, but I think grandpa and I will let Miss 
Abitha have all the responsibility this afternoon, and 
we will go up and see your aunt to-morrow, Elinor.” 

It was therefore decided in that way, and Captain 
Penrith rowed them ashore. 

“ I’ll be watching for you early in the evening,” he 
said, as the little party started off toward the farm- 
house. 

“ This is a good full tide,” remarked Captain Penrith 
as he brought the rowboat alongside the house-boat and 
Dannie grasped the rope and made it fast, “ and if I 
were a boy about your size I should go in swimming.” 

“ I don’t know how to swim,” replied Dannie, a little 
tone of reproach in his voice ; for it was now nearly a 


House-Boat Party 83 

week since the captain had promised to teach him, but 
nothing further had been said about it. 

Captain Penrith chuckled at Dannie’s injured look, 
but responded quickly : “ That’s so, and it begins now 

to look as if it was my fault. Well, there’s no time 
like the present, as the fox said when he had young 
turkey for dinner, so just unhitch that rope and you 
and I will take a run in around the point and start a 
swimming school.” 

44 It will be fine to tell Jimmie and Mary that I have 
learned to swim,” Dannie said happily, as he held the 
steering lines of the boat and Captain Penrith rowed 
down the stream. 

Dannie’s first lesson was a success. He was not at 
all afraid, which Captain Penrith declared to be half 
the battle, and he obeyed every direction given him, so 
that he had a very good idea of swimming before they 
returned to the launch. 

“ Do you suppose I could make a little house-boat, 
just like the 4 Water Witch ’ ?” Dannie asked on the 
way back from the swimming lesson. 

44 Got a good jack-knife ? ” asked the captain. 

44 Yes, sir,” replied Dannie. 

44 Then I don’t see any reason to prevent your mak- 
ing one. There’s plenty of good pieces of wood along 


84 Grandpa s Little Girls 

these shores. I calculate you mean a sort of doll's 
house-boat ? ” 

“ Yes, sir,” said Dannie eagerly, “ that’s just what I 
mean. I’d like to take it home as a present to the 
children.” 

Captain Penrith nodded approvingly. “ You can do 
it just as well as not,” he said ; “ there’s a fine chance 
on the launch for you to work, and you can begin any 
time you want to.” 

“ I’ll begin to-morrow,” said Dannie. 

“ No tune like the present,” agreed the captain. 

The girls were warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. 
Perry, and Elinor led them to the little grove of chestnut 
trees on the slope back of the house where they found 
hammocks hung, and a number of round tables set. 

“We are going to have supper here,” she explained. 
“ Aunt Perry thought that we would all enjoy it more 
than being indoors.” 

“ I can see the top of the 4 Water Witch,’ ” said Con- 
stance, looking off toward the river. 

“ Yes, Uncle Silas was up here the morning your 
boat came to anchor. He says that in olden times the 
settlers used this hill for a lookout, and if any strange 
craft was seen coming up from the coast, or canoes 
came down the river, signal-fires were built here so 


House-Boat Party 85 

that the settlers could keep a sharp outlook for any 
trouble.” 

“ This grove would be a fine place for an entertain- 
ment,” said Myrtle, thoughtfully ; “ the stage could be 
right here under these two big trees. Let’s make up a 
play right now. Miss Abitha and Mrs. Perry and Adri- 
enne can be early settlers. Constance and Rose and 
Elinor can be a dangerous foe, and Eunice, Antoinette 
and I can be friendly Wawenocks who arrive just in 
time to save the settlers from being captured.” 

They all agreed that it would be great fun. The 
hammocks were decided upon as the settlers’ homes. 
The dangerous foe came down upon them from the 
grove, and just as the settlers were being led away to 
captivity the war-cry of the brave Wawenocks was 
heard, a rescue quickly made, and the group, flushed 
and laughing, threw themselves on the soft earth to 
rest. 

“ I think it is fun to make up games,” said Myrtle, 
drawing a long breath, and brushing her hair back 
from her warm forehead. 

“ I believe I like more quiet amusements,” said Mrs. 
Perry laughingly. 

By the time they were rested from Myrtle’s game ? 
Mr. Perry was seen coming up the hill carrying two large 


86 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

baskets, and in a few moments they were all busy 
spreading the small tables and making ready for sup- 
per. There were pitchers of cool milk, big plates of 
chicken sandwiches, dishes of ripe strawberries and an 
abundance of sugar cookies. The girls were all hun- 
gry, and the appetizing food was warmly welcomed. 

When the sun began to disappear Miss Abitha said 
that it was time to start on their walk to the river, and 
thanking Mr. and Mrs. Perry for the pleasant enter- 
tainment they said their good-nights. Eunice was to 
stay at the farm again for the night with Elinor, 
greatly to her delight. 

As the two little girls went up to Elinor’s pleasant 
chamber which faced toward the river, Elinor said : 

“ Eunice, I know now what you meant when you said 
that you had found out one reason why every one likes 
Eose. I have been watching her all the afternoon ; and 
I guess the reason is because Eose likes everybody.” 

But Lamb shook her head. “ That wasn’t what I 
meant,” she replied ; “ of course Eose likes us all, and 
of course she shows it. But I do believe, Elinor,” and 
Lamb’s voice was very serious, “ that Eose would treat 
strangers just as well as she does us.” 

“ I wouldn’t ! ” declared Elinor. “ I think we ought 
to treat our friends the best.” 


House-Boat Party 87 

“ Yes,” said Lamb, “ that’s what I thought when I 
got up the plan of the Glee Club to keep the twins 
from studying. I thought it was tine, and that I was 
helping Constance win the prize. But I wasn’t. I 
was just being underhand and mean. And the twins 
are our good friends now. I think Lose Mason treats 
strangers just as if they might some day be friends, 
and I guess that’s the right way.” 

As Miss Abitha and the rest of her party reached the 
“ Water Witch ” she began singing : 

u A strong no’ wester’s blowing, 

Say, don’t you hear it roar! 

Lor’ bless ’em, how I pities ’em, 

Unhappy folks ashore.” 

Grandpa Newman laughed as he heard the gay little 
song, and thought to himself that he wished Grandma 
Newman had decided to come on the house-boat. 
u She would enjoy it as much as Abitha does. I be- 
lieve after we go down the river we will get back to 
Pine Tree Farm in time to persuade her to take a trip 
up the river.” 


CHAPTER X 


A RIDE AND AN ADVENTURE 

A week went quickly by, and the house-boat was 
still moored near the shell-heaps. Eunice had stayed 
at the farm with Elinor every night, but early each 
morning the two girls appeared on the river bank 
ready for whatever good time the day might bring. 

There had been one day of rain during the week 
when the house-boat party had been glad to stay in the 
big living-room. The girls had busied themselves with 
mounting the sea-mosses on squares of firm white paper. 
They found it a very easy matter. The brown wrap- 
ping-paper had so absorbed the moisture, and the rocks 
had kept them so smoothly in place, that now it was a 
very simple matter to attach them neatly to the white 
cardboard with a little clear flour paste, which Miss 
Abitha carefully prepared. 

Grandpa Newman had set the day for leaving the 
Perry farm, and Mr. and Mrs. Perry had said that on 
the last day of their stay the passengers of the “ Water 
Witch ” must be their guests. This kind invitation was 
88 


House-Boat Party 89 

gladly accepted, for there had been a number of good 
times at the farm, and the girls were all sure that Mr. 
and Mrs. Perry had planned some special pleasure for 
this last day. 

Captain Penrith would be busy preparing the boat 
for its further voyage, so he could not be one of the 
party. The others were all ready in good season, and 
as they walked up through the field Elinor and Eunice 
came running to meet them. 

“ Constance, there’s a surprise,” Lamb whispered to 
her sister, as they walked along together. 

Constance laughed at Lamb’s eager delight, but did 
not ask what the surprise would be ; but in a moment 
they all knew, for, as they came in sight of the farm- 
house a big hay wagon stood in the yard. It was half 
full of fresh, clean straw, and Mr. Perry was just har- 
nessing a pair of big gray horses to the wagon. A 
number of baskets stood on the porch, where Mrs. Perry 
was waiting for them. 

“ Just in time,” called out Mr. Perry. “ We thought 
that you people ought to see something of the land 
about here, as well as the water, and we are going to 
drive you to Falls Point.” 

“ That sounds like water,” replied Grandpa Newman. 

“Well, so it does,” agreed Mr. Perry, “but I am not 


9 ° 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

going to tell you about it until you see it. There’s 
some cushions in the wagon, if you like them better 
than straw.” 

The soft straw made very comfortable seats, and the 
girls all said it was more fun than riding in a carriage. 
Mr. Perry drove, and Dannie stood close beside him. 
The road was not ver}^ wide, and was shaded by over- 
hanging elms and maples. Mrs. Perry told them, as they 
rode along, stories of the early settlement of Maine. 

“ Our house has an interesting history,” she said, 
when she found that her hearers were all listening 
eagerly. “ Great-grandfather Perry settled first in 
Marblehead, Massachusetts. He came from England 
with several others who wanted to make a home in the 
new country, and their little vessel was filled with 
household stuff. He was a man who liked his own 
way so well that he could not agree with his new 
neighbors, so, after a year or two at Marblehead, he re- 
loaded the little schooner and sailed off down this 
coast. He came up the river to the shell-heaps, and de- 
cided that he would make that place his home. 

“ He took up several hundred acres, built a rough 
log cabin, and established his family. As soon as he 
could he built the house where we live, and which his 
descendants have always owned.” 


House-Boat Party 91 

44 Didn’t the Indians ever attack the house ? ” asked 
Myrtle. 

“ No,” replied Mrs. Perry ; 44 you see the tribe living 
near here were the Wawenocks, a kind and friendty 
people; once they even protected Great-grandfather 
Perry and his family from a party of Indians of an- 
other tribe.” 

Myrtle and Adrienne nodded smilingly at each other 
at this pleasant history of their adopted tribe. 

It was nearly noon when Mr. Perry stopped his team 
by the roadside. 

“ Jump out, Dannie,” he said, “ and take down that 
pair of bars, and after I drive through put them up 
carefully.” 

“ Yes, sir,” responded Dannie, and in a moment Mr. 
Perry was guiding his team along a grass-grown road 
which led through a rough, pasture-like field. 

44 This is Falls Point,” he said. 

Above the narrow field they could see a broad stream 
of water full of ripples and currents, and below the 
field the water seemed to dash about over numberless 
rocks. 

44 What stream is this ? ” asked Grandpa Newman. 

44 We call it Skilling’s River,” replied Mr. Perry ; 44 it 
empties into the harbor some miles below here.” 


9 2 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ How does it get round this field ? ” asked Elinor 
wonderingly ; “ I can’t see that there is any opening.” 

“ That’s where Falls Point comes in,” replied her 
uncle. “ Look straight down, and listen.” 

The field ended in a high bluff, and Mr. Perry turned 
his horses carefully around, and the passengers in the 
wagon obeyed his suggestion to “ look straight down, 
and listen.” 

In fact they had all been listening for some time to a 
dull roar which came from the end of the point. How 
as they looked down and saw the water forcing its way 
through the narrow passage, dancing over the rough 
ledge in its way, and then falling over in a body of 
spray, they all exclaimed in wonder. 

“ Couldn’t get the 4 Water Witch ’ through there, could 
we, Constance ? ” said Grandpa Newman. 

Mr. Perry now led the horses under the shade of a 
big maple and unhitched them from the wagon. Then 
all of the party except he and Dannie hurried back to 
look at the falls again. 

“ Can’t I help you take care of the horses, Mr. 
Perry ? ” asked Dannie. 

“ Why, yes, my boy, I shall be glad of your help,” 
replied Mr. Perry, looking approvingly at the manly 
little figure. “This is a pretty warm day, and I. 


93 


House-Boat Party 

thought I would rub off the horses with some of this 
dry grass before I gave them a drink, and you can 
help me.” 

It was not long before the horses were well taken 
care of, and fastened in a shady place, and Mr. Perry 
and Dannie joined the others on the blulf. 

“We could get down to the water here as easy as 
can be,” suggested Lamb, “ and I can see an evening 
primrose in blossom down there. May Elinor and I go, 
mother ? ” 

“Yes,” replied Mrs. Newman, “go carefully, and 
don’t go to the very edge of the water.” 

Rose and Dannie joined them in scrambling down 
the steep side of the blulf. There were many little 
shrubs growing on the bank to which they could hold, 
and this made their descent easy. 

“ How loud the noise is down here,” said Rose, “ and 
it is really quite a fall. I wonder if a boat ever went 
through here ? ” 

“I’ll bet the Indians used to go through in their 
canoes,” said Dannie, who had gone close to the shore, 
and was standing on a big log which the stream had 
washed up on the rocks. One end of the log was in 
the water, and now and then it bobbed up and down 
in the waves as the current swept near the shore. 


94 


Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

Dannie thought it was good fun to balance himself 
on the swaying log. He did not mean to take any risk 
of danger. It seemed to him that the log was pretty 
firmly grounded on the shore ; but his jumping up and 
down on it, together with the sweep of the current, 
loosened its hold on the rocks. Finally one wave 
stronger than the others dislodged it and set it free to 
be swept out into the rushing waters and over the falls. 

It swung out from shore so quickly that Dannie had 
no time to jump. He stumbled and fell astride of the 
log, and had presence of mind enough to cling to it 
with legs and arms. He realized instantly that there 
was no hope of reaching the shore. He must go over 
the falls, then ; if he had not been swept from the log, 
there was a chance that he might reach the shore. 

The current seized the log and carried it swiftly 
through the passage. At the falls it seemed to stand 
almost on end for an instant, and then disappeared in 
the cloud of spray. 

As Rose saw the log move out from the shore, she 
had sprung instinctively toward it hoping to get hold 
of Dannie before he was out of reach. But she was 
too late. To climb the bluff and find Grandpa New- 
man and Mr. Perry would take too much time. She 
realized quickly that if Dannie could only cling to the 


4 


House-Boat Party 95 

log it might be possible to save him if some one was 
ready to help below the falls. 

“ Come on, girls,” she said, climbing swiftly over the 
rocks. And Lamb and Elinor, frightened and speech- 
less, obeyed. 

It was a hard scramble to get to the lower side of 
the point, but they succeeded. They came out on a 
small stretch of sand, and for the first time turned 
their eyes toward the water, which seemed made up of 
eddies and currents. 

“ Oh, there he is,” cried Eunice. 

Sure enough, toward the shore where they stood 
there was a stretch of comparatively smooth water and 
into this, by great good fortune, the log had drifted. 
And on top of the log sat Dannie safe and well. 


CHAPTER XI 


FAREWELL TO THE FARM 

“ How can we get him ashore ? ” exclaimed Lamb. 

“ Don’t try to swim, Dannie,” called Rose ; “ there is 
too much undertow here.” 

Dannie heard. “ I’ll get ashore,” he shouted, and the 
girls could see that he was kicking his feet vigorously, 
and that the log was actually moving slowly toward 
the shore. Rose took off her shoes and stockings, 
tucked up her skirts, and waded carefully out so that 
as the log came near she could grasp one end of it and 
draw it to shore. 

When Dannie found himself safe on land again, he 
also found that his arms and legs were bruised, and 
that he could hardly stand. 

“ My ! ” he whispered, as Rose and Elinor led him up 
to the warm grassy field. “ I didn’t much think I 
could do it.” 

“ Dannie Woody ear ! Did you go over those falls on 
purpose ? ” demanded Lamb. 

“ Ho ! ” answered the surprised boy, “ but I mean 
96 


House-Boat Party 97 

when I found that the log was going I was afraid I 
couldn’t hold on to it.” 

Mrs. Newman and the rest of the party had not 
stayed on the bluff long enough to see what had befallen 
Dannie. They had all gone to the upper side of the 
point where there were a number of large trees under 
whose shade the Perrys had planned to have luncheon. 

Everything was ready, and Myrtle volunteered to go 
to the bluff and call Rose and her companions to 
luncheon. She was gone but a few moments when she 
came running back. 

“ I can’t see them anywhere,” she said, and at that 
very moment the call decided upon by the Wawenocks 
as a tribal call was heard, and they all looked in sur- 
prise at the little party coming so slowly across the 
field. Rose and Elinor were leading Dannie, who evi- 
dently walked with difficulty, and Eunice came on 
behind them. 

“My soul! What has happened to Dannie Wood - 
year ? ” exclaimed Miss Abitha, setting down a custard 
pie so carelessly that it was overturned and ruined, as 
she ran quickly forward to meet them. 

Dannie’s story was soon told, and in a few moments 
his wet garments were spread on some low-growing 
shrubs to dry in the sun, and, wrapped in a shawl 


g8 Grandpa's Little Girls' 

which Mrs. Perry had brought, he was enjoying the 
excellent luncheon as well as the rest of the party. 

“ You are not the first person to go over those falls 
on a log, Dannie,” said Mr. Perry. “ I remember when 
I was a boy that there was a great gathering here one 
Fourth of July. A man had made a bet that he could 
go over those falls on a log, and everybody came to see 
if he could. There is a certain swell of the tide from 
the ocean here, and on that swell the water is more 
calm, and he chose that time for the attempt. The 
bluff was crowded with people who came from all the 
neighboring towns, and below the falls on either side 
people gathered.” 

“ Did he go through all right ? ” asked Dannie. 

“Yes,” replied Mr. Perry. “It was really quite a 
sight. A boat with the log in tow lay anchored in this 
calm bit of water above the falls, and at just noon the 
man stepped from the boat to the log and poled it out 
until the current caught it. Then he used the pole to 
balance himself with, and he went through the eddies 
very skilfully. No one dared shout, for we all ex- 
pected he would topple off and go under, and there 
were several boats below the falls and men ready with 
ropes to help him. When he came to the falls he 
managed some way not to lose his footing, but the 


House-Boat Party 99 

current below the falls was too much for his balance 
and he was glad to cling to his log with legs and arms. 
He won his bet, however, for he did go over the falls 
on a log.” 

“ That was the time the town voted that it should be 
against the law for any one ever again to attempt such 
a thing, wasn’t it, Silas ? ” questioned Mrs. Perry. 

“ I believe it was,” replied her husband ; 44 but we 
will let Dannie off this time if he will promise never 
to do such a thing again.” 

44 1 didn’t want to go over this time,” said Dannie, 
thinking of his bruised knees and shoulders. 

The summer afternoon passed quickly, and twilight 
found them at the farm again. This time it would be 
good-bye to Elinor instead of good-night, as the house- 
boat would leave its moorings early the next morning. 
The girls were all sorry to leave Elinor, and they all 
thanked her uncle and aunt for all the pleasant days at 
the farm. 

The little party walked quietly across the field 
toward the shore. They could see the lights of the 
44 Water Witch ” reflected in the water, and the figure 
of Captain Penrith who was waiting at the landing 
with the launch to set them aboard. 

44 Captain Penrith, Dannie went over the falls on a 


ioo Grandpa s Little Girls 

log ! ” exclaimed Lamb, as soon as they reached the 
shore. 

“You don’t tell!” exclaimed the captain, as much 
surprised as the girls could possibly wish. Then Lamb 
told him the story. 

“Well, as I view it, you’ve had a pretty narrow 
escape,” declared the captain, “and if you wasn’t so 
set on being an astronomer I should advise you to be a 
sailorman; for it looks to me as if water was your 
natural element.” 

“ I guess my shoes are spoiled, and I lost my hat,” 
said Dannie. 

“ Your shoes ain’t spoiled, not a bit of it,” said the 
captain reassuringly. “I’ll fix ’em all up in the 
morning. And what a boy with a crop of hair like 
yours needs of a hat is more than I can tell.” So 
Dannie did not worry any more about the stiff wet 
shoes or the absent cap. 

When the “Water Witch” got under way next 
morning, Mr. and Mrs. Perry and Elinor were all at the 
landing waving their handkerchiefs and calling out 
good wishes. 

“ It was almost the best part of the trip to find Elinor,” 
said Lamb, as the big craft moved down the river and the 
passengers could no longer see their friends on shore. 


House-Boat Party 101 

“ Where will we stop next, grandpa ? ” asked Con- 
stance. 

“ We are going in among the islands on this voyage,” 
answered Grandpa Newman. “ Captain Penrith knows 
of a nice sheltered harbor just outside the mouth of the 
river, between two islands, well protected in case of a 
heavy wind and sea. With a big clumsy boat like this 
we have to think about calm waters.” 

The boat moved on slowly and it was well past noon 
when they rounded a wooded point and found them- 
selves in one of the prettiest harbors they had yet seen. 
The chug-chug of the launch stopped. The big anchors 
of the house-boat were dropped overboard, and Captain 
Penrith came on board to prepare luncheon. With his 
white canvas coat and big apron, he looked like another 
man than the captain of the launch. 

Each of the two islands between which the boat was 
moored was nearly crescent in shape, so that the out- 
lets of the harbor were narrow. The shores were 
thickly wooded with spruce and fir trees. 

“ It seems like a lake in the woods,” said Adrienne 
Glidden admiringly ; “ the water is so calm I am sure 
we can go rowing and bathing here. Don’t you think 
we can, Constance ? ” 

“ I am sure we can,” replied Constance. “ I will ask 


102 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

mother at luncheon. Just think, we are really on salt 
water now. Outside that island is the sea.” 

“ Where was Clare Seymour going this vacation ? ” 
asked Eose ; “ wasn’t she going to the shore ? ” 

Constance did not seem to hear her friend’s question, 
and none of the other girls corresponded with Clare. 
Eose looked at Constance wonderingly, and then Con- 
stance smiled and nodded. Eose thought it rather 
queer in her friend that she had nothing to say about 
Clare, but did not question her further. 

“These islands look wild enough,” said Grandpa 
Newman as he came up on the promenade deck. “ I 
should say it was an excellent place for a tribe to camp. 
What would you girls say to camping out on shore for 
a day or two ? ” 

“ It would be fun ! ” said Lamb. 

The other girls all declared that they would like 
nothing better, and they all went on shore to select a 
good spot to put up two canvas tents which Grandpa 
Newman had stored on board the “ Water Witch.” 

There was a sandy cove on the shore of the upper 
island, and a little clearing near at hand which Miss 
Abitha declared to be the very place for a camp. As 
they explored the vicinity they found a fine boiling 
spring close to the shore. 


House-Boat Party 103 

The tents were soon put up, the large one for the 
girls and Mrs. Newman and Miss Abitha, the small one 
for Grandpa Newman and Dannie. Captain Penrith 
was to stay on his launch, as usual. 

Boughs of the fragrant fir balsam were cut for beds 
and covered with quilts from the house-boat. At twi- 
light a little fire was built on the shore in front of the 
tents, and as the girls lay down on their beds of boughs 
they could look through the open door of them tent and 
see its cheerful flicker. 

“ This is just the place for Wawenocks to camp,” said 
Myrtle. “ What do you suppose we will do to-mor- 
row ? ” 

“ It will be something lovely, it is every day,” re- 
plied Bose. 

Dannie lay long awake that night. He had never 
slept in a tent before. He had made his own bed very 
carefully so that he could look out at the sky. As he 
looked he could plainly see the seven bright stars which 
make the figure of the Great Dipper. Beginning at the 
star in the upper outer edge of the rim of the dipper 
Dannie named them all softly to himself, as Miss Abitha 
had taught him : “ Dubbe, Merak, Phaed, Megrez, 

Alioth, Mizar, Benetnasch,” and then he looked for 
Alcor, the star which keeps so close to Mizar, in the 


104 Grandpa s Little Girls 

middle of the handle, and he remembered that the 
Arabs called this pair of stars “ The horse and rider.” 
Then Dannie’s eyes closed, and every one in the tents 
was fast asleep. 


CHAPTER XII 


AT THE ISLANDS 

The next morning Grandpa Newman and Mr. Pen- 
rith made a substantial table, and fixed it firmly on the 
ground a short distance from the tents, as it had been 
decided to stay on shore for several days, and to eat 
out-of-doors under the big spruce trees was an added 
charm to camping out. 

As soon as breakfast was over Miss Abitha and the 
girls started on an exploring trip. A rough wood road 
opened near the -tents, as if some one had hauled timber 
from the centre of the island to the shore. They fol- 
lowed this track, finding many small wood flowers and 
vines. The partridge vine, with its tiny blossoms of 
white ; Solomon’s Seal, looking so much like the lilies 
of the valley ; and now and then bunches of the yellow 
blossom of the arrowroot. There were patches of 
feathery green moss about the rocks, and every little 
while they would hear the bubbling song of the wood- 
thrush, which seemed to fill the woods with music. 

“ To think of a tiny brown bird about the size of a spar- 
row making such a noise in the world,” said Miss Abitha. 
I0 5 


106 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ It seems to me a good deal of a ventriloquist,” de- 
clared Eose, “ for it generally perches on some low 
shrub near the ground, while the music seems to come 
down from the tree-tops.” 

“ I believe this road goes straight across the island,” 
said Constance, “for I can see a glimmer of water 
through the trees.” 

“Yes, it does!” exclaimed Myrtle running ahead, 
“ but it is not a sandy beach here, it is all rough.” 

As they came out from the woods they found them- 
selves on a high, rocky ledge which commanded a very 
good view of the coast. Far down to the right they 
could see a steamer moving swiftly along, and nearer 
the islands there could be seen the roofs of several sum- 
mer cottages on the mainland. Constance looked at 
these houses with great interest. “ I wish that we had 
borrowed Dannie’s telescope,” she said, “ then we could 
see those houses so much plainer. I am sure that must 
be Silver Bay.” 

“ I never heard of Silver Bay,” said Lamb, wonder- 
ing why Constance should be so much interested in a 
place where none of their friends lived. 

Eose Mason smiled, and when she was alone with 
Constance whispered a few words in her ear. 

“ I don’t mind your knowing, Eose,” responded Con- 


House-Boat Party 107 

stance, “ but don’t tell the others. Wait and see what 
happens.” 

The girls sat about on the warm ledge looking across 
the water, and arranging the flowers they had gathered 
on the way. Constance had noticed a big sailboat 
coming toward the island from the mainland, and as it 
came swiftly along with a fair wind it was not long be- 
fore the other girls saw it. 

“ I do believe that boat is headed straight for this 
ledge,” said Miss Abitha. “ I hope it is a friendly 
tribe.” 

“ Look, it is coming to anchor,” exclaimed Eunice, 
“ and some people are rowing ashore in a small boat.” 

While this conversation was going on, Constance had 
slipped away from the others and ran down to a mass 
of rocks just below the ledge and where the strange 
boat evidently intended to land. She reached it just 
as the boat did. A girl sprang on shore, greeted Con- 
stance enthusiastically, and the two girls hurried off 
into the woods. Then the boat pulled back to the sail- 
boat, and in a feAV moments away went the sloop to- 
ward the mainland. 

“ Did they put any one ashore down there ? ” asked 
Miss Abitha, a little anxiously. “ I was sure there 
were three in the boat when it disappeared round the 


108 Grandpa s Little Girls 

other side of this ledge, and when it went back to the 
sloop there were only two.” 

They all ran down to the other side of the ledge, 
but could see no trace of any stranger. 

“ Where is Constance ? ” asked Lamb, and then a 
shout for “ Constance ! Constance ! ” was sent up by a 
chorus of voices. 

“ What a noise,” exclaimed a reproving voice, and 
Constance appeared close beside the group. “ As chief 
of this tribe I command silence,” and she stood in front 
of them raising one hand in a commanding gesture. 

“You shall be obeyed, oh, chief,” declared Miss 
Abitha. “Your braves have been searching for a 
stranger whom we fear has landed on our shores.” 

“ Fear not ! ” announced the chief. “ No enemy has 
set foot here. But be prepared for the tidings of a feast 
which will soon be held at our camping ground.” 

“ I suppose that’s dinner,” said Myrtle, “ and I am as 
hungry as I can be.” 

Miss Abitha’s eyes were fixed anxiously on a little 
group of shrubs near the entrance to the wood path. 

“ I was almost certain that I saw some one behind 
those trees,” she said to Bose in a whisper, but Bose 
laughed so merrily at the idea that Miss Abitha de- 
clared herself to be getting the real Indian way of 


House-Boat Party 109 

looking for things, and they all started down the road 
toward their camps. 

They did not linger as much on the homeward way, 
and the distance was nearly half finished when Antoi- 
nette Glidden, who was a little ahead of the others, 
came to a full stop and turned round with a frightened 
exclamation. 

“ Girls ! ” she said, “ there is some one in these 
woods ! And it’s a girl. Look, quick ! You can see 
her running now.” 

“We must capture this stranger,” declared Constance 
boldly. “ Your chief will lead you,” and with a gay 
little laugh she ran lightly ahead of the others and sped 
swiftly along after the figure which now could be 
clearly seen. 

“ Come on, girls, follow your chief,” said Eose Ma- 
son, and in a moment there was a line of swiftly mov- 
ing figures flying along the old wood road. They were 
almost in sight of the tents when Constance caught up 
with the figure and grasped it tightly. Eose was be- 
side the couple in a moment, then Miss Abitha formed 
one of the group, and as the others came hurrying up 
there were exclamations of “ Clare ! ” “ Why, Clare 

Seymour,” and of “ Constance knew all about it.” 

“ You all knew that Clare was going to the shore for 


no 


Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

her vacation,” Explained Constance, “and Rose knew 
that the name of the place was Silver Bay. Well, 
when we were at the shell-heaps I wrote Clare and told 
her all about the ‘ Water Witch,’ and that we were to 
stop at some islands near the mouth of the river. Then 
she wrote back that we would come very near Silver 
Bay, and that she would watch for the house-boat and 
come over and see us. And her brother and uncle 
brought her over in that sloop, and I hid her, and that’s 
all.” 

“ It’s lovely,” declared the Glidden twins, and the 
girls all surrounded their visitor, and when they came 
out at the little camping ground Mrs. Newman and 
Grandpa Newman gave Clare a cordial welcome. 

“ I told her brother that she would stay until to- 
morrow,” said Constance, “ and that we would take her 
home in the launch.” 

“ You can sleep in the tent, Clare,” said Lamb. “ Con- 
stance made her fir balsam bed wide enough for two. 
I suppose she was expecting you.” 

“ Yes,” said Constance; “ I wanted to surprise you 
all, but I was afraid Clare would land where you would 
all see her, and then it wouldn’t seem so wonderful.” 

Captain Penrith had made a fine chowder for dinner. 
“ Caught as fine a cod as you would wish to see, right 


House-Boat Party 1 1 1 

in this little harbor,” he announced, as they gathered 
round the new table. 

That afternoon Grandpa Newman, Dannie and Cap- 
tain Penrith decided to take the launch and cruise 
about outside the islands for an hour or two. 

“We can catch a good mess of fish,” said the cap- 
tain, “ and get the lay of the land around these parts.” 

“ It will be just the afternoon to go in swimming,” 
said Constance, as they watched the launch disappear 
through the entrance to Crescent Harbor. 

Mrs. Newman gave her consent, the bathing suits 
were pulled out from the canvas bag in which Mrs. 
Newman had brought them ashore, and one after an- 
other the girls ran down from the tent and waded out 
into the clear water. They could all swim, and it was 
an ideal place for the sport. After their bath Clare 
and Constance and Kose wandered along the shore 
talking over their summer experiences and planning for 
the winter. The four younger girls busied themselves 
in getting vines to decorate the stout wooden table. 
They twisted evergreens about its legs, hung festoons 
of leaves about the sides, and when they had finished it 
was as pretty as a table in the woods could be. Mrs. 
Newman and Miss Abitha came to look at and admire it. 

“ Isn’t it time for Grandpa Newman to come home ? ” 


112 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

asked Lamb, as Clare, Constance, and Rose came up to 
join in praising the table. 

“ Yes,” replied Mrs. Newman, looking at her watch, 
“ it is after live ; just about time for the launch, if 
Captain Penrith intends us to have our supper on time.” 

“We could get supper if he didn’t come back,” said 
Constance. 

“ I’m afraid not, my dear,” replied her mother ; “ our 
stores are all on board the ‘ Water Witch,’ and the key 
to the storeroom is in Captain Penrith’s pocket. Be- 
sides that, he promised to bring back a fish for our sup- 
per.” 

At six o’clock Miss Abitha and Mrs. Newman began 
to feel anxious about the launch and its passengers. 
The girls followed the shore nearly to the entrance of 
the little harbor, but could see no sign of the missing 
boat. 

“We will have to eat crackers for supper,” said Miss 
Abitha'; “ there is a tin box full in the rowboat.” 

“ It’s too late to look for blueberries,” said Myrtle. 

They all nibbled at the dry crackers and drank from 
the spring, but as the shadows began to lengthen, and 
the sun to disappear from sight, they were all too anx- 
ious to be hungry. 

“ I suppose something has happened to the engine,” 


"3 


House-Boat Party 

said Mrs. Newman ; “ if that has given out they might 
be very near shore, and yet have to wait until Captain 
Penrith could repair it.” 

“ Won’t they be here to-night, mother ? ” asked Lamb. 

“They may be here at any moment,” replied her 
mother hopefully. “ Perhaps it will be a good idea to 
build a little fire here on the shore. The air seems more 
chilly than last night.” 

The girls gathered a pile of driftwood and Miss Abitha 
started a brisk little blaze. 

As it grew later Mrs. Newman persuaded the girls to 
go to bed. “ You need not be a bit frightened about 
the launch,” she assured them cheerfully. “ When you 
wake up in the morning you will find your grandpa, 
Dannie, and Captain Penrith all here, safe and sound.” 

The girls went to their tent, but none of them found 
it easy to go to sleep. They were all listening, hoping 
to hear the whistle of the launch and to know that its 
passengers had reached the camp safely. 


CHAPTEK XIII 


captain penrith’s fault 

“ Well, Dannie, don’t you think you’d rather be a 
fisherman than an astronomer ? ” asked Grandpa New- 
man, as the delighted boy pulled in a good-sized had- 
dock. 

“ I’d like to be both,” answered Dannie quickly. 

The launch was some distance from the islands before 
the fish began to bite, and when Mr. Newman spoke 
Dannie had just caught his first fish. Captain Penrith 
ran the launch more slowly, and Grandpa Newman and 
Dannie had good sport, catching a number of good- 
sized fish. 

“ It’s after five ! ” said Grandpa Newman in a sur- 
prised tone, as Captain Penrith asked him what time it 
was. “ I declare, time does go fast when the fish bite. 
We must start for the camp, captain.” 

“ Aye, aye, sir,” came Captain Penrith’s reply, his 
voice somewhat indistinct because of his being stretched 
out near the engine, evidently trying to adjust some 
part of the machinery. 

Dannie reluctantly drew in his fishing-line, and 
114 


House-Boat Party 115 

Grandpa Newman began to watch Captain Penrith a 
little anxiously. “ Anything wrong, captain ? ” he asked. 

Captain Penrith scrambled into a sitting position, and 
fixing his eyes upon Mr. Newman said, almost in a 
whisper, “ I hardly dar’st to tell you, sir ! ” 

“ Why, Penrith, what is it ? ” 

“ I’m ashamed to say, sir ! ” responded the captain, 
in so tragic a tone that Grandpa Newman began to 
feel alarmed. “ I started off without filling the tank,” 
continued Captain Penrith, “ and there isn’t enough 
gasoline on board to run this launch a mile ! ” 

“ Good heavens ! ” exclaimed Grandpa Newman in 
consternation. “ And those poor children alone on that 
island. My daughter will be frightened, and there is 
no way we can get to camp.” 

“ That isn’t the worst of it,” said Captain Penrith 
mournfully. “ There ain’t a thing on that island for 
all those girls to eat except a tin case of crackers. 
And I have the key to the provision closet in my 
trousers pocket ! ” 

“We must get back !” declared Grandpa Newman. 
“ Can’t we row ? ” 

“ Haven’t any oars,” groaned Captain Penrith, “ and 
we couldn’t make no headway against the waves if we 
had. All I see for us to do is to yell and holler, and 


n6 Grandpas Little Girls' 

wave our coats, and maybe some boat’ll catch sight of 
us and tow us in.” 

“We are drifting out to sea every minute,” said 
grandpa. 

“ Yes, sir ; we are,” agreed Captain Penrith, mourn- 
fully, “ and it’s all my fault. I shan’t say a word, Mr. 
Newman, if you discharge me right on the spot.” 

“Nonsense,” replied Grandpa Newman; “if I really 
must be shipwrecked, I’m glad to be in such good com- 
pany as yours, Penrith.” 

“ Thank you, sir,” responded the captain humbly. 
“ I guess we’d better begin to holler and wave before 
it gets dark.” 

But no boat came near enough to see or hear their 
signals. It began to grow chilly after the sun went 
down, but Captain Penrith had extra coats and blankets 
on board, and by wrapping these about them they were 
more comfortable. Dannie curled up on the captain’s 
bed in the tiny cabin, and soon forgot that he was 
hungry and went fast asleep. Outside Grandpa New- 
man and Captain Penrith shared the watches of the 
night. 

“ There ain’t no great danger unless some craft under 
full sail runs us down,” said the captain. 

Morning comes early on the water, and when its 


u 7 


House-Boat Party 

first glow became visible Captain Penrith shouted 
“ Glory ! ” with so much enthusiasm that Grandpa 
Newman awoke suddenly, and looked at him in sur- 
prise. Then he, too, jumped to his feet and began to 
call out, “ Schooner ahoy ! Help ! ” 

A small topmast schooner was coming along with a 
fair wind, and was even now near enough to hear the 
calls from the launch. 

It did not take long for the captain of the schooner 
to bring his vessel alongside the launch. Captain 
Penrith explained what had befallen them, and that 
they had had nothing to eat since the previous noon. 

“ You come right aboard,” said the captain of the 
schooner ; “ it won’t take no time to fry some eggs and 
make a pot of coffee. We’re bound for Silver Bay, 
and we can tow your launch just as well as not. You 
wouldn’t be adrift out here if you’d been in a good 
sailboat,” he added a little accusingly as Captain 
Penrith lifted Dannie to the schooner’s deck. 

At Silver Bay Captain Penrith was able to purchase 
enough gasoline to fill the tank on the launch, and it 
was not eight o’clock when the anxious group on the 
shore of the island heard the cheerful sound of the 
whistle of the launch, and soon after saw the little 
craft coming swiftly across the harbor. 


1 1 8 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

They all hurried to the landing, and in a few mo- 
ments Grandpa Newman was telling the story of their 
mishap, and of their fortunate rescue. Captain Penrith 
lost no time in preparing a substantial breakfast. There 
was an excellent boiled codfish, with roasted potatoes, 
hot corn bread and coffee, and as they gathered around 
the vine-decked table they were all more happy and 
thankful than on any morning of their cruise. 

“ Were you afraid to be here alone ? ” asked Grandpa 
Newman, as he gave Lamb a second helping of fish. 

“ I don’t think that any of us thought about that,” 
replied Constance. “ All we could think about was 
that you were way off in the launch and that we didn’t 
know anything about you ! ” 

That afternoon Clare’s brother’s big sloop found its 
way into the island harbor. Mrs. Seymour was on 
board, and was eager to see all the house-boat party, of 
whom her daughter had had so much to say. She per- 
suaded Mrs. Newman to give her consent for Constance 
and Rose to go back to Silver Bay and stay all night 
with Clare. “ And in the morning,” she urged, “ I 
want you all to come over in your launch and spend 
the day with us. Your house-boat and camp will be 
perfectly safe here.” 

Captain Penrith promised to bring them all over in 


n 9 


House-Boat Party 

the morning, but declared that he and Dannie would 
have to come back and look after the camp during the 
day ; “ but the launch will be on hand to fetch you all 
home before dark,” he concluded. 

So it was decided in that way, and Constance and 
Dose sailed away in the sloop with Clare, the others 
promising to appear at Silver Bay the next morning. 

“ This will be a good day to begin my house-boat, 
won’t it, Captain Penrith ? ” questioned Dannie. 

“ I should say that it was just the day,” responded 
Captain Penrith. “ Now in building a house you see 
first that your underpinning is solid ; in building a boat 
you look to it that your keel is laid straight, and in 
building a house-boat you look out for both. Your 
underpinning wants to be a neat little raft, with a good 
flooring. If I was you I should hunt me up six or 
eight small, round pine boughs, cut off all the twigs, 
and rivet them together for a foundation.” 

Lamb and Adrienne had stood near during this con- 
versation, and were very much interested when Dannie 
told them of his plan to make a small house-boat to 
carry home as a present to his small brothers. 

“ Couldn’t we make one, Captain Penrith ? ” asked 
Lamb eagerly ; “ then we would always have something 
to remind us of this fine trip.” 


120 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ Why, I suppose you could,” replied the captain a 
little doubtfully. 

“ I can lend them my jack-knife part of the time,” 
volunteered Dannie. 

“ Well, I s’pose they can have my knife now and 
then,” agreed the captain ; “ we might see how good 
ship-carpenters you can learn to be.” 

It was decided that Dannie should get pine enough 
for two rafts, and that they should begin at once. 
They selected a place a short distance from the camp 
for a “ shipyard,” as Captain Penrith said he did not 
want a litter of shavings and chips about the tents. 

“ What are you doing ? ” exclaimed Myrtle, as she 
came along the shore and saw Lamb whittling out neat 
wooden pegs to be used as rivets. 

Lamb and Adrienne explained that they were begin- 
ning a house-boat, and Miss Abitha and Antoinette 
came up in season to hear the story. 

“ That’s a fine idea,” declared Miss Abitha, “ and, if 
Myrtle and Antoinette will help me, I will agree to 
furnish both the boats when they are ready for beds 
and chairs.” 

“ It would be nice if we could make some little dolls, 
for people on board the boats,” whispered Antoinette 
to Myrtle. 


121 


House-Boat Party 

“We will ! ” declared Myrtle. “ I know Constance 
and Rose will help us, and we will make tiny dolls and 
name them after the different ones in the house-boat 
party.” 

The afternoon went quickly, and it was a sleepy 
group of people who went to their tents that night at 
an early hour. 

“ My,” thought Dannie, looking up at the friendly 
stars, “ I don’t want to be a fisherman if they have to 
stay on the water all night. I’d rather be here on 
land.” 

“ Lamb,” whispered Myrtle, “ are you awake ? ” 

“ Ye-es,” answered Lamb so sleepily that Myrtle 
laughed aloud. 

“ I wanted to ask you if you had found out how to 
be like Rose ? ” 

“Of course I have,” answered Eunice more vigor- 
ously. “ You just watch her and you will see that she 
is always thoughtful about other people. She doesn’t 
wake them up when they are asleep.” 

“ Well ! ” said Myrtle, “ I know one thing, she 
wouldn’t be cross if a friend spoke to her.” 

“ I know she wouldn’t,” responded Lamb in so peni- 
tent a tone that Myrtle laughed again, and the two 
little friends went to sleep. 


CHAPTER XIV 


ISLAND VISITORS 

Captain Penrith had his launch ready in good 
season and they embarked for Silver Bay leaving Dan- 
nie alone on the island. 

“ I shan’t be gone more’n an hour or so,” Captain 
Penrith called back cheerfully. 

Dannie had no thought of being afraid, but, as the 
launch disappeared from sight and he looked at the big 
house-boat anchored beyond his reach, and then at the 
comfortable camp and realized that he was responsible 
for their safety, he could not but remember the last 
time when he had been left in charge and when tramps 
had carried him off as well as the house-boat. 

“ I’d like to see any one do that again,” Dannie said 
aloud, as he walked toward the “ shipyard ” and sat 
down to work on his house-boat. As he smoothed out 
the bits of wood he whistled softly to himself, and 
every few moments looked out across the smooth har- 
bor, and at the white tents. 

He was well in the shadow of a thick growth of 
spruce and any one approaching the camp by boat or 
122 


House-Boat Party 123 

from the shores of the island might not at first notice 
the little figure. 

As Dannie whittled his cheerful whistle died away 
for he became too much interested in his work. Never- 
theless he was on the alert for any unusual noise and 
when there came a breaking of twigs in the woods 
behind him he heard it instantly. 

“ I wonder if that is a fox ? ” he thought, for Captain 
Penrith had told him that he had seen a number of 
foxes on the island. But in a moment Dannie knew 
that the noise was not made by any wild animal for he 
heard voices. 

“ This would be a great place for a camp,” he heard 
some one say, and then a second voice exclaimed: 
“Why, look! Here is a camp. A whole outfit all 
ready for us, and deserted. And what kind of a craft 
is that anchored off there ? ” and not twenty feet from 
where Dannie sat two young men came out from the 
woods and stood looking at the camp. 

Dannie sprang to his feet in an instant and hurried 
toward them. He did not stop to remember that he 
was only a small boy, and that either of the young men 
so near him could pick him up easily and carry him 
away if they saw fit ; he remembered only that he had 
been left to take care of the camp, and that it was his 


124 Grandpa s Little Girls 

business to see what these intruders wanted. So he 
ran out toward them. 

“ Hello ! ” exclaimed the taller youth. “ Who’s 
this?” 

“I’m Dannie Woodyear,” answered the boy, “and 
this is our camp. I’m taking care of it.” 

“ Then I suppose we can’t walk into these tents and 
have them for ours ? ” said the other young man, and 
as Dannie looked at him he thought how red his hair 
was and how white his teeth, and decided at once, as 
the young man smiled pleasantly at him, that there 
was no reason to be afraid of these visitors. 

“No,” Dannie answered, “of course you couldn’t, 
but perhaps Mr. Newman might like to have you for 
company.” 

“ Where is Mr. Newman ? ” questioned the tall 
youth. 

“ They are all at Silver Bay,” replied Dannie, “ but 
if you will wait Captain Penrith will be home soon, and 
perhaps he will take you out to see the house-boat.” , 

“ So that craft is a house-boat, is it ? ” said the red- 
haired visitor. “Well, then, we’ll accept your kind 
invitation and wait, for I have never been on board 
one of those craft. What were you making, Dannie 
Woodyear, when we came out of the woods ? ” 


125 


House-Boat Party 

“ I was making a house-boat,” answered Dannie, and 
he explained to the young men his plan to make a small 
boat exactly like the big one. Both of the visitors 
seemed interested, and sat down near Dannie in the 
shade and soon took out their pocket-knives and began 
to help him smooth and polish wood for his boat. 

They told him that their names were Dick and John 
Moor, and that they were staying near Silver Bay, 
and had sailed over to the island that morning just to 
explore it. 

“We didn’t suppose there was any one here,” ex- 
plained Dick, the boy with the red hair. “ Did you 
think that we were bears when you heard us crashing 
through the woods ? ” 

“ No,” replied Dannie soberly, “ I thought you might 
be a fox. Look, there comes the launch now,” and 
they all three hurried down to the landing. 

Captain Penrith was surprised to see that Dannie 
had visitors, but the young men told him their names 
and explained their visit so frankly that he did not 
hesitate to make them welcome, and took them out to 
the house-boat, greatly to their delight. 

When they said that they must go back to their own 
boat Dick Moor handed his pocket-knife to Dannie 
and said : “ I want you to keep this knife to remember 


126 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

ns by. You were a plucky little chap not to be afraid 
of us.” 

Dannie was as much pleased with the praise as he 
was with the knife, and saw the big boys vanish up the 
wood road with the hope that he would see them again 
some day. 

“Nice boys,” said Captain Penrith approvingly. “ I 
guess boys that are so good to small boys are apt to be 
about right.” 

At Silver Bay the girls of the house-boat party found 
a cordial welcome. A big buckboard with two horses 
was ready to take them all on a ride, and after the ride 
luncheon was served on the broad piazza overlooking 
the sea. Adrienne and Antoinette Glidden sang, and 
Myrtle and Lamb exchanged a look of understanding 
when Mrs. Seymour said that she had heard of the 
Glee Club at Miss Wilson’s school. For Myrtle and 
Lamb had persuaded the Glidden twins to start the 
Glee Club. It was not one of their pleasant memories, 
as it had been done with a selfish object in view, and 
they did not like to remember it. 

Clare, Bose, Constance and Miss Abitha had a game 
of tennis in the afternoon, and the day went so swiftly 
and pleasantly that when Captain Penrith appeared and 
said that the launch was waiting to take them back to 


House-Boat Party 127 

the island they all declared that the day had been too 
short. Grandpa Newman told them that the “ Water 
Witch ” would leave the island harbor the next day, so 
they said good-bye to Clare. 

“ I wonder what pleasant thing can happen next ? ” 
said Eunice, as the launch went swiftly toward the 
island ; “ Every day something nice happens.” 

“Well,” said Grandpa Newman, “ what would you 
like to have happen next ? ” 

“ I would like to have Mary Woody ear come and 
have some of our good times with us,” replied Lamb. 

“ Why,” said Grandpa Newman, laughingly, “ do 
you think Mary could fly down the river at a moment’s 
notice and appear here ? ” 

“ No, only such nice things do happen,” said Eunice. 

Captain Penrith told them about Dannie’s visitors, 
and, although he praised the young men, Grandpa 
Newman looked a little sober as he heard of the visit. 

“ It is better not to leave the house-boat alone,” he 
said ; “ we might have visitors who were not as desirable 
as these young men.” 

It was to be their last night at the island camp, and 
the girls looked at the comfortable tents and vine- 
trimmed table a little regretfully. 

“ This has been a real camp of the Wawenocks,” de- 


128 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

dared Constance ; “ we ought to have taken Clare into 
the tribe while we were here.” 

“ There was so much to do we didn’t have time,” said 
Lamb. They sat up somewhat later than usual that 
night talking over the day’s pleasures and wondering 
what it would be like at their next stopping-place, which 
Mrs. Newman had told them would be a small town on 
the coast. A town where there was a summer hotel, 
stores, and steamboats coming and going ; not at all 
like the quiet places where they had landed. 

Dannie went to sleep early. lie was very proud of 
his new knife, and of the new friends he had made. 
He thought to himself that when he grew up he would 
like to be just like Dick Moor. 

Before ten o’clock every one at the camp was fast 
asleep. No one heard the sound of stealthy steps com- 
ing along the wood road and moving toward the land- 
ing. Captain Penrith always declared himself a light 
sleeper, but not even he, resting quietly in his bunk on 
the launch, was aroused by the careful approach of two 
shadowy figures. 

But when he came ashore in the morning to start the 
fire to prepare breakfast he looked about him in sur- 
prise. 

“ I never saw the beat of this,” he declared ; and 


129 


House-Boat Party 

when Miss Abitha appeared she too exclaimed, and then 
called out : “ Girls, girls, hurry out and see what has 
happened. We have had a visit from fairies.” 

A moment later and the girls came running out, and 
their surprise was as great as Miss Abitha’s. On the 
centre of the wooden table was a big tin pan filled with 
a mass of blossoming water-lilies. On each side and 
around the ends of the table lay bunches of the same 
beautiful flowers waiting only to be put in water to 
blossom as fully and fragrantly as the others. A smooth 
white chip lay beside the pan and on it was printed : 

“ To the House-Boat Party 
From Dick and John Moor.” 

“ Well, well,” said Grandpa Newman approvingly, 
“ those must be nice boys. I wish we could see them 
and thank them.” 

“ I knew they were nice in a minute,” said Dannie. 

Mrs. Newman said that the water-lilies must be taken 
on board the “ Water Witch,” and Miss Abitha said she 
thought the chip ought to go too. So Mrs. Newman 
fastened the chip, with the names of Dick and John 
Moor carefully printed on it, on the wall of the living- 
room of the “Water Witch,” and during the rest of 
their trip it often reminded them of their island visitors. 


130 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

The morning was a busy one, and not until after 
luncheon did the house-boat move slowly out of the 
little harbor. 

“ Good-bye, happy island,” Eose called back as the 
girls stood on the promenade deck and waved their 
hands toward the wooded shores. 


* 


CHAPTER XV 


IN DANGER 

“ Considerable of a breeze this morning,” Captain 
Penrith had announced, as he started the launch, and 
Miss Abitha and Mrs. Newman quite agreed with him 
as the big craft came into the open harbor and began to 
feel the swell of the big waves from the sea. 

They were now well out from the mouth of the 
river, and their course would take them along the sea- 
coast. The clean salt air, the rush of the waves, and 
the continual meeting with sailboats, fishing schooners, 
and now and then a small steamboat, gave the girls a 
new interest. The air was much cooler than it had 
been on the river, and they were all glad to put on 
their warm sweaters. 

“ Shall we get in to Boothbay to-night, grandpa ? ” 
asked Constance, as she looked out across the wide 
stretch of water. 

“Yes, indeed,” said Grandpa Newman; “we ought 
to come to anchor before sunset. But no one can go 
on shore except Captain Penrith, Dannie, and your 
* 3 * 


132 Grandpa s Little Girls 

mother. They will have to go to get things for us to 

eat, and ” But Grandpa Newman did not finish 

his sentence. He seemed very happy about something, 
and whenever Lamb or Constance came near him he 
would chuckle to himself as if he were thinking of 
something very pleasant. 

“ I suppose you are glad that we are so near Booth- 
bay because we shall get letters there from Grand- 
mother Newman and from father,” said Constance. 

“Yes, yes, indeed!” answered Grandpa Newman; 
“it will be fine to hear all about Pine Tree Farm, 
won’t it ? And to know just how your grandmother is. 
Yes, indeed. Perhaps you may hear some good news 
from there, eh ? ” 

“ Why, of course we shall hear good news,” replied 
Constance, and wondered a little at Grandpa New- 
man’s delight at the thought of hearing from Pine 
Tree Farm when he had heard from there only the day 
before at Silver Bay. 

It was just sunset when they came in sight of the 
harbor, and, as the big anchors slid into the water, 
Captain Penrith brought the launch alongside and 
Constance heard him say as he helped Mrs. Newman 
on board, “We’ll be in good season, ma’am.” 

“ I suppose he means in season to buy things before 


House-Boat Party 133 

the stores close,” she said to Rose who stood close be- 
side her. 

“We will get supper while your mother is away,” 
suggested Miss Abitha. “ I shall forget how to make 
cream toast if I don’t look out.” 

“We will all help,” volunteered Rose, and the table 
was again brought out to the “ porch ” and the girls 
were all ready to help. 

“ Oh, Miss Abitha ! ” exclaimed Lamb, “ you have 
put an extra plate on the table.” 

“We will let it stay for luck, my dear,” said Miss 
Abitha. “ I have heard an old saying ‘ Spread a place 
for Good Fortune and she will sup with you,’ so this 
extra plate may bring a welcome guest.” 

“ Grandpa stays on the promenade deck watching 
the shore all the time,” said Constance ; “ I suppose he 
wants to hear from home, and is anxious for the launch 
to get back.” 

“We have been away three weeks!” said Myrtle. 
“We can’t make so many stops on our way home.” 

Everything was in readiness for supper when 
Grandpa Newman came down the steep stairs from 
the “ roof ” and announced that the launch was coming. 

“ I think Dannie will have good news from home as 
well as the rest of us,” said Grandpa Newman. 


134 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

The girls all watched the launch as it came nearer 
and nearer the “ Water Witch,” until Lamb suddenly 
exclaimed : 

“ Look ! There is a girl sitting close beside Dannie. 
I do believe it is our dear Mary Woody ear. It is ! I 
know it is,” and that instant Grandpa Newman found 
himself warmly clasped by two pairs of arms, and Con- 
stance and Lamb exclaimed almost in chorus : 

“ You knew all about this. You had it all planned 
for Mary to come by train and meet us here.” 

“ And Miss Abitha knew, for I believe she put the 
extra plate on the table on purpose,” said Myrtle. 

Grandpa Newman confessed that it had all been 
arranged before they left Pine Tree Farm that Mary 
Woody ear should meet them at Boothbay ; and he had 
received a letter at Silver Bay, and so knew just the 
time to meet her. 

The launch was now close beside the house-boat, and 
in a few moments Mary found herself the centre of a 
happy group all telling her how glad they were to see 
her, and asking for news of Grandma Newman, of Con- 
stance and Lamb’s father, of Mr. Eben Bean, Jimmie 
Woody ear, and all the dear people whom they had left 
behind. 

Mary had never taken a journey by train before, and 


*35 


House-Boat Party 

she whispered to Lamb that she knew that she was the 
happiest girl in the world and had the best friends. 
Dannie kept very close to Mary all that evening. He 
had had a fine time on the trip but he had often 
wished that Mary or Jimmie could share it with him. 
He told his sister about the small house-boat he was 
making for the younger children, and Mary heard of 
all the adventures of the party since they had left 
home. 

A meeting of the Wawenocks was called that even- 
ing, and it was decided that Mary must be taken into 
the tribe as soon as the “ Water Witch ” should make a 
landing in a place where no one would be disturbed by 
their ceremonies. 

“ We can wait until we get back to the shell-heaps,” 
suggested Rose; “ perhaps we can see Elinor Perry 
again.” 

So it was decided that Mary should become a member 
of the tribe at the very place where Constance was 
made chief. 

The next morning Grandpa Newman said that he 
would take all the girls for a trip on shore. “ Perhaps 
we can find cameras here,” he said, as they walked up 
a street where there were stores whose windows were 
filled with various kinds of articles. 


136 Grandpa s Little Girls 

“Won’t we go to Bath, grandpa ?” asked Constance. 

Grandpa Newman shook his head. “ No, my dear,” 
he answered ; “ the ‘ Water Witch ’ isn’t as well suited 
to the open sea as she is to rivers and sheltered harbors ; 
and Captain Penrith tells me that it will be wiser for 
us to cruise about near shore in this vicinity.” 

The girls all accepted this decision without question. 

“We have such a good time every day that it doesn’t 
matter much where we go,” said Kose, and grandpa 
nodded approvingly at his “ adopted granddaughter,” 
as he often called Kose. 

They succeeded in purchasing two excellent cameras 
to take the place of those lost in the river, and Miss 
Abitha and Lamb took a number of snap-shots of 
the wharves, and the boats in the harbor to test their 
new possessions. 

They had luncheon at a hotel, a new experience for 
all the girls, and as they came down the wharf to the 
launch they all declared that eating in a hotel dining- 
room was not half the fun that having lunch on the 
“ back porch ” was, or under the big spruces on the 
island. 

That afternoon the “Water Witch ” was towed sev- 
eral miles further down the coast away from the busy 
harbor, and was anchored a short distance from an 


137 


House-Boat Party 

island whose quiet shores looked more attractive to the 
house-boat party than the streets of a noisy little 
town. 

That evening Mary and Dannie wrote a long letter 
home to Jimmie, and then Dannie went on the prom- 
enade deck, and as star after star shone out in the 
summer sky he named them to the little group, who 
listened admiringly ; each one resolving as they looked 
at the boy’s earnest face that the “ Dannie Fund ” 
should increase, and Dannie have an opportunity to 
learn all he could about the wonders of the sky. 

The next day found them all on the “ new ” island, 
as they called it. Eose and Constance found a new 
variety of sea-moss ; Miss Abitha and Myrtle went in 
search of the sea anemone, while the Glidden twins, 
Lamb, and Mary Woody ear went after blueberries. 

“ You are not to pick any berries to put in the basket, 
Mary,” Eunice insisted. “ You are to eat all you pick, 
because you are to have a truly vacation, and just have 
a good time.” 

“ But I shouldn’t have a good time if I didn’t pick 
my share to take back to the others,” said Mary so 
seriously that Lamb could only say, “ All right.” 

“ It isn’t a very wide island,” said Adrienne, as they 
wandered through a thicket of bushes and came out on 


138 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

a rocky shore, “ for here is the real sea ; hear the 
waves ! ” 

The four little girls stood and looked out across the 
stretch of waters. It was a wonderful sight to each of 
them. As far as the eye could see there was only the 
stretch of blue sea. At their feet the waves dashed in 
against the rocks as if eager to sweep up over the island. 

“ I’d like to go in wading,” exclaimed Eunice ; “ let’s 
put our baskets behind these rocks and take off our 
shoes and stockings and wade out and meet a wave. 
It will be fun to feel it dash against our feet.” 

“ It looks too rocky,” objected Adrienne Glidden. 

“I’m sure we can find a smooth place,” urged 
Eunice; so the girls put their baskets behind a big 
rock and clambered over the ledges and rough shore 
until they found a tiny cove where the rocks were like 
tiny pebbles, instead of huge boulders and ledges. 

“ This is a lovely place, girls,” said Eunice enthusias- 
tically, and the others agreed that it was the best 
place they had found. Their shoes and stockings were 
left on the slope of a ledge, and they all made their 
way carefully down over the pebbles to the water’s edge. 

There was a chorus of exclamations as the first wave 
swept in about their feet. 

“ I almost went over that time,” said Adrienne, who 


House-Boat Party 139 

had waded out beyond the others, as the second wave 
struck her. 

“ Hold up your dress, Adrienne, it’s getting wet as 
a sop,” said Antoinette. 

The girls had gone out very carefully, but all at once 
there was a shriek from Lamb, and her companions saw 
her suddenly swept out from their reach. 

“ Come back, Lamb ! Swim ! ” commanded Mary. 

A sudden panic seemed to have seized the Glidden 
twins. Instead of retreating to a surer footing on the 
shore they, too, were going out with the big wave 
which seemed to be carrying Eunice beyond help. 

“ Swim ! Swim ! ” screamed Mary, who had run 
back to the shore, and she could see that all three of 
the girls were trying their best to keep afloat, but she 
knew that each wave would take them a little further 
from the shore, and she knew of no way to help them. 
It would take too long to cross the island and bring 
help from the “Water Witch.” All about her the 
shore stretched rough and desolate, and there were her 
friends at the mercy of the sea, and she was powerless 
to help them. 

“ What can I do ? What can I do ? ” she said over 
and over again as she watched them struggling bravely 
to reach the shore. 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE RESCUE 

“ What do you say to a cruise around the island in 
the launch, daughter ? ” asked Grandpa Newman just 
after the girls had all started off on their different 
quests. “ Captain Penrith and Dannie will enjoy it, and 
there is no one near enough to disturb the house-boat.” 

Mrs. Newman thought it an excellent plan. Captain 
Penrith was soon ready, and they started on a trip 
which Mrs. Newman never forgot. 

As the launch rounded the narrow end of the island 
Dannie’s sharp eyes were instantly attracted by the 
sight of a girl’s figure running up and^down the shore. 

“ That’s Mary ! ” he exclaimed. “ And, look ! the 
other girls are in the water ! ” 

Captain Penrith turned the launch instantly toward 
the little cove. Not a word was spoken as Grandpa 
Newman and Lamb’s mother watched with anxious 
eyes the brave little figures striving against the waves. 

“ Steady ! ” called Captain Penrith, running the 
launch so close to Adrienne Glidden that Grandpa 
Newman had no trouble in grasping her by the shoul- 

140 


House-Boat Party 141 

ders and lifting her on board. A moment later and 
Lamb and Antoinette were also safely drawn in. 

“ Can you go back across the island alone, Mary ? ” 
called Grandpa Newman. “We must get these girls 
to the ‘ Water Witch ’ as soon as possible.” 

“ Yes, indeed ! ” Mary assured him happily, and 
started back along the shore, carrying the shoes and 
stockings of the rescued girls. 

“ I guess I can manage to take the berry baskets, 
too,” she thought, as she made her way over the slip- 
pery rocks* She was quite sure that she could remem- 
ber exactly where they had put the baskets, but after a 
careful search at the point of rocks where she believed 
the baskets to be she decided that she had made a mis- 
take and that she must go farther on along the shore. 
But after looking behind big rocks and scrambling over 
ledges Mary was obliged to own to herself that she 
could not remember the exact place where the baskets 
had been left. 

“ Captain Penrith won’t have any blueberries for his 
pudding,” she thought regretfully, as she decided that 
it would be better to give up the search and find her 
way back to the landing. 

There were a great many small spruce and fir-trees 
on the island, and as Mary walked along she thought 


142 Grandpa s Little Girls 

that these little trees were all exactly alike. She was 
not at all afraid of being lost, for the island was small, 
and she knew that the house-boat party would not let 
a very long time pass without coming to search for her. 

The launch made good time back to the “Water 
Witch.” Lamb, Adrienne and Antoinette were given 
a vigorous rubbing with rough towels and hurried into 
dry clothing. Then Mrs. Newman thought it best for 
them to lie down in the hammocks on the promenade 
deck while they told her of how their wading experi- 
ment had brought them into danger. 

“The shore seemed to drop off all at once,” said 
Adrienne. “It was not deep at all until I stepped 
down, down, as if there was a cellar-hole.” 

Grandpa Newman nodded understandingly. “ I am 
more to blame than any one,” he declared. “ I should 
have told you all how dangerous and uncertain these 
shores are, and that it was not safe to wade.” 

Miss Abitha, Constance, and Kose soon joined the 
others and listened in amazement to their description 
of their adventure. 

“ If we had not known how to keep afloat and swim 
I guess the launch would not have been in time,” said 
Lamb. 

“ You see that it’s wise to go to school,” replied Miss 


House-Boat Party 143 

Abitha, for at Miss Wilson’s school, where all the girls 
of the house-boat party went, the pupils were taught 
to be prepared for emergencies ; to swim, not to be 
frightened by unexpected accidents, and many useful 
and helpful things besides their lessons. 

Lamb laughed at Miss Abitha’s reminding her that 
she had not wanted to go to school. She and Con- 
stance had run away from home and hid in an old 
schoolhouse, when they were two years younger, at 
the very idea of going away to school. But Miss Wil- 
son’s school had proven such a pleasant place, they had 
made so many friends, and been so happy there, that 
now they could hardly believe that they had not 
wanted to go. 

“ No berries for my steamed pudding,” said Captain 
Penrith to Dannie, as the two spread the table for the 
midday meal. 

“ Mary will bring the baskets,” said Dannie ; “ don’t 
you think it’s about time for her, Captain Penrith ? ” 
and Dannie looked at the island shore anxiously. 

“ Just about time,” agreed the captain ; “ you keep 
an eye on the shore, and when she comes in sight you 
can take the little boat and put right ashore after her 
so that she will be in time for these nice boiled lob- 
sters.” 


144 Grandpa s Git tie Girls 

“ Yes, sir,” replied Dannie. He wished that Mary 
had come home in the launch. “ She’s all alone on 
that island, and she isn’t very big,” thought the little 
boy. 

While he stood looking across the water Miss Abitha 
came down the stairs. “ What do you say, Dannie ? ” 
she said. “ Shall you and I row ashore after Mary ? ” 

Dannie gave a joyful little jump. “ I was just wish- 
ing I could,” he replied. 

“We will be back in good time for the lobsters, 
Captain Penrith,” said Miss Abitha, as she and Dannie 
pushed the small rowboat off from the “Water 
Witch.” 

“ You see, Mary would have to bring the shoes and 
stockings and the berry baskets, and very likely got 
tired and sat down to rest,” said Miss Abitha, noticing 
Dannie’s anxious look, “ and when we get on shore and 
call ‘ Mary ! Mary ! ’ she will jump up and hurry to 
meet us.” 

Dannie’s face brightened. “ I don’t like to have her 
on that island all alone,” he said. 

They drew the little boat up on the shore and walked 
a short distance in among the scrubby spruce-trees, and 
then called : “ Mary ! ” 

“ Hullo, I’m coming ! ” came the response, and it 



' y y 


“I KNEW I COULDN’T BE LOST 


































House-Boat Party 145 

was not long before Mary came in sight, her arms full 
of shoes and stockings. 

“ I couldn’t find the berry baskets ! ” she explained, 
“ and that’s why I have been so long. And all these 
little trees look so much alike that I wasn’t just sure if 
I was headed right, but as it is an island I knew I 
couldn’t be lost.” 

“ Not when Dannie and I were near the shore,” said 
Miss Abitha. “ I’ll take some of those shoes,” she 
added, and Mary willingly handed over the stout 
leather shoes belonging to the Glidden twins. 

“ Here is Mary ! ” called Rose as the rowboat came 
near, and all the girls gathered at the railing to wel- 
come her. Mrs. Newman told her that she did just 
right not to search longer for the berry baskets. 

The lobsters proved as good as Captain Penrith had 
promised, and Grandpa Newman declared that if the 
steamed pudding had had blueberries in it he believed 
it would have been too good to eat. 

No one wanted to go on shore that afternoon, and 
Miss Abitha suggested that it would be a good tune to 
work on the furnishings of the toy house-boats. Dan- 
nie brought his small raft and bits of polished wood 
up to the promenade deck, and generously offered to 
loan his new knife to any one. 


146 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ 4 Peter’ used to know how to use a knife pretty 
well,” said Grandpa Newman with a nod toward Con- 
stance. For when Constance was a very small girl 
grandpa had liked to call her “ Peter,” and she had 
learned to use several tools very skilfully. 

44 I can use it now,” she replied. “ If Dannie will 
let me take his knife I’ll whittle out little wooden dolls 
for the rest of you to dress.” 

“I want to work on my house-boat,” said Lamb; 
“ I’ll borrow Captain Penrith’s knife.” 

Mrs. Newman produced a scrap-bag full of pieces, 
and each one of the group decided on what part of the 
work she would do. Rose was to paint the faces of 
Constance’s tiny wooden dolls. Miss Abitha was to 
make a little flag for each boat, and the others were to 
dress the dolls. All but Lamb, Myrtle and Dannie, who 
were busy making the boats. 

“ This is just the time for us to go fishing, captain,” 
suggested Grandpa Newman, “and it will be about 
our last chance, for we shall have to head the 4 Water 
Witch ’ for home to-morrow.” 

“Yes, sir,” replied the captain. “I suppose you’ll 
want to make an early start to-morrow morning, and 
not make any landing all day.” 

44 That is the plan,” said Mr. Newman. 44 We can 


H7 


House-Boat Party 

lay to for luncheon, and then keep on and anchor for 
the night wherever night finds us. The girls all want 
to stay over for a day at the shell-heaps.” 

Captain Penrith nodded approvingly. “ That meets 
my views,” he said, “and to-day is just the day for 
fishing ; ” and in a few minutes the launch disappeared 
round the end of the island, the girls all waving the 
fishermen their good-byes. 

“We will have a fine time at the shell-heaps,” 
Myrtle confided to Mary, as the two girls worked 
busily on. “ Elinor Perry is pretty sure to be there at 
her uncle’s ; and Miss Abitha and Rose are planning 
ceremonies to take you into the Wawenocks.” 

Mary laughed happily. “ I am having a nice time 
every minute,” she declared ; “ of course I was awfully 
frightened when I saw the girls couldn’t get back to 
shore this morning, but I knew they could all swim. 
I wish my grandmother could see how happy Dannie 
is,” she concluded smiling toward her small brother. 

“ You will have a lot to tell her when you get home,” 
said Myrtle. 

“Yes, indeed; and I will have so much to think 
about that is pleasant,” said Mary. “I think Rose 
Mason has made the faces of these wooden dolls look 
just like people. See, doesn’t this look like me ? ” and 


148 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Mary held up the tiny figure Eose had just handed her 
to dress. 

The afternoon passed very quickly with the busy 
workers, and when the fishermen returned Grandpa 
Newman was shown the two little house-boats, and on 
the promenade deck of each were groups of small fig- 
ures representing the house- boat party. 

“ This one is for father and Grandma Newman,” said 
Lamb, “ and Dannie’s is for the little Woodyears. But 
they both ought to be painted.” 

“ So they should,” said Captain Penrith, “ and I 
should admire to do it. I keep a can of white paint 
and a brush on board the launch ; and if you’ll look 
out for all those little doll people I’ll take the contract 
for painting.” 

“ The little doll people ” were quickly taken care of, 
and before supper time the toy house-boats had received 
a coat of shining white paint. 

Mrs. Newman had a little talk with the girls that 
night before they went to their berths. She had been 
deeply moved by the danger of her own dear Eunice 
and the Glidden twins, and she told the girls that on 
the return trip she should expect each one of them to 
be careful and avoid any nearness to danger. 

“ So many things have happened on our voyage, and 


H9 


House-Boat Party 

yet we have been cared for and kept safe, that I want 
you all to say a little prayer of gratitude before you 
sleep,” she said. And the girls promised, each of them 
with a thankful heart that they were all safe and to- 
gether. 

Lamb lay awake longer than usual that night. She 
thought a great deal about her Grandma Newman and 
wished that she could see her. “ Of course I can’t be 
homesick,” she decided to herself, “ but I do wish we 
could go home and get father and grandma and then 
go sailing off again.” 

At Fine Tree Farm Grandma Newman was promis- 
ing herself to do that very thing. “ I shall have them 
take me up the river,” she had said to her son, and 
Lamb’s father had declared that it was just what they 
would all enjoy. 


CHAPTER XVII 


HOMEWARD BOUND 

The house-boat party were all more quiet than usual 
the next morning. They all realized that their delight- 
ful trip was nearly done, and as the “Water Witch” 
swung round and started back toward Boothbay the 
girls all stood on “ the roof ” and looked back at the 
tiny island with sober faces. 

“We shall always remember this island,” said Con- 
stance, putting her arm across Lamb’s shoulder. 

Lamb looked up smilingly. “ I wasn’t frightened,” 
she said. “ I knew if I only kept afloat that somebody 
would come after me.” 

“ Too bad I wasn’t on hand with my camera,” inter- 
rupted Miss Abitha, “ but I mean to get some good 
photographs of the Wawenocks, and of the ceremonies 
when" a new member is received.” 

Captain Penrith had taken advantage of the tide, and 
the house-boat moved along more rapidly than on any 
day of the cruise. They passed through Boothbay 
harbor, saw Christmas Cove in the distance, and went 
steadily up the coast toward Silver Bay. 

150 


151 


House-Boat Party 

Dannie was on the launch with Captain Penrith, his 
fish-line trailing behind, as usual. Kose Mason was fin- 
ishing a water-color sketch of the Glidden twins. Miss 
Abitha and Lamb were busy with their cameras, while 
Myrtle, Constance and Mrs. Newman were making lists 
of the various plants, sea-mosses, and shells, which they 
had gathered at their different stopping-places. 

“ We are all too busy to talk,” said Adrienne Glid- 
den, looking up from her task of mounting sea-moss. 
“You are the only idle person, Antoinette,” she added, 
with a reproachful look at her sister, who was swinging 
in a hammock, and looking off across the smooth water. 

“ Idle ! ” repeated Antoinette, with so much energy 
that they all laughed. “ I am not idle. I am thinking.” 

There was another laugh at this, and Antoinette sat 
up in the hammock and looked about in surprise. 
“Well!” she exclaimed, “thinking accomplishes just 
as much as doing. I heard my father say once that 
everything begins in thought. That you have to think 
right before you can do right. And I had several 
things on my mind to think out, and I thought this was 
a real good time to do it.” 

“Yes, Antoinette,” said her sister, “it is a good time, 
and I won’t call you idle again.” 

“ I was about through,” responded Antoinette. “ I’d 


152 Grandpa s Little Girls 

just as soon do something else now,” and she left the 
hammock and sat down beside her sister. 

“ What did you have to think out ? ” whispered 
Adrienne. 

“ I’ll tell you as soon as I get a chance,” Antoinette 
whispered back. 

It was not until Captain Penrith had moored the 
boat near shore and begun preparations for luncheon 
that Adrienne’s curiosity was satisfied. The sisters 
found themselves alone on the forward part of the 
promenade deck and Adrienne said slowly : “I have 
been thinking about how good Grandpa Newman has 
been to us all. Just think of this fine house-boat and 
all the good times he has given us, and not one of us has 
even said ‘ Thank you.’ ” 

“ But it isn’t time to say that until we are all ready 
to go home,” replied her sister ; “ then of course we 
shall tell him what a good time we have had and thank 
him.” 

Adrienne shook her head disapprovingly. 

“ I didn’t think it out that way at all,” she declared ; 
“ we ought to do something special to let him know 
that each of us appreciates him.” 

“ What ought we to do ? ” questioned Antoinette 
hopefully. 


House-Boat Party 153 

“Well, I thought it out this way, that we might 
thank him as a tribe.” 

“ I don’t see what you mean,” responded Antoinette. 

“ I mean that when the Wawenocks take Mary 
Woody ear into the tribe that we might plan to all 
thank Grandpa Newman for our good time. I am go- 
ing to talk it over with Miss Abitha and Rose Mason.” 

“ That will be the best way,” responded Antoinette. 
“ There’s the call for luncheon now ; you’ll have to plan 
it this afternoon because Captain Penrith says that we 
shall reach the shell-heaps to-morrow.” 

As soon as luncheon was finished Adrienne told Miss 
Abitha and Rose of her plan. 

“ It is an excellent idea,” said Miss Abitha, “ and it 
will be just the right thing to do. After Mary has 
been welcomed to the tribe, each one of us can march 
past Mr. Newman, make him a bow and say what we 
want to say to him of our appreciation of his kind- 
ness.” 

“ I am afraid that I might not say the right thing,” 
said Antoinette ; “ all I could think of to say would be 
‘ Thank you, Grandpa Newman.’ ” 

“Well,” responded Miss Abitha smilingly, “I think 
that he would be very much pleased to hear you say 
that. But we might tell the other girls about it, and 


154 Grandpa s Git tie Girls’ 

arrange a little program so each one will know what 
to say.” 

“ Myrtle Green will want to make up verses,” sug- 
gested Adrienne, a little fearfully. 

Grandpa Newman, from his place at the wheel, won- 
dered what all the house-boat party were so interested 
in that afternoon. They were talking, laughing, recit- 
ing, bowing low to one another, and marching back 
and forth on the long promenade deck. , 

“ They must be practicing for the tribal ceremonies,” 
he concluded. 

At sunset the “ Water Witch ” was at the mouth of 
the river, and a quiet anchorage was found, and Cap- 
tain Penrith said they could have supper on shore if 
they wished. There was a smooth open field near their 
moorings, and supper was prepared and served only a 
short distance from the shore. They watched the 
moon rise, and did not go on board the house-boat un- 
til late in the evening. None of them was as ready for 
sleep as usual, for the next day would bring them to 
the shell-heaps, and they were all looking forward to 
seeing Elinor, toward Mary’s becoming a Wawenock, 
and to the little ceremony of thanks for Grandpa New- 
man. 

“ It’s all like a long picnic, isn’t it, Lamb ? ” whis- 


155 


House-Boat Party 

pered Mary Woodyear, as the two little girls prepared 
for bed. “ Just think, I don’t have to do anything but 
have a good time.” 

This made Lamb remember how busy Mary was in 
her own home. How she washed dishes, cared for the 
younger children, and was always pleasant and cheer- 
ful. “ And I have good times right along,” thought 
Lamb, and resolved that she would try and share more 
pleasures with Mary. 

They were all watching for a sight of the shell-heaps 
the next day long before it was possible to see them, 
but it was Mary who exclaimed, as they came in sight 
of the shining mounds, “ Look — oh, look ! There is 
a truly canoe near the shore and a real Indian in it.” 
And as they all looked toward their former landing- 
place they were sure that Mary was right, for a canoe 
could be plainly seen paddled slowly along near the 
shore by an Indian. At least the occupant of the canoe 
wore a head-dress of nodding feathers, and a bright- 
colored blanket was draped about the shoulders. 

As the house-boat drew near the “ Indian ” raised the 
paddle from the water, and holding it upright sent a 
long-drawn call across the water. 

“ Elinor ! That is Elinor ! ” declared Eunice, and 
the house-boat party joined in a chorus of “ Elinors ! ” 


156 Grandpa s Git tie Girls' 

and in a few moments the “ Indian’s ” canoe came 
alongside the house-boat and Elinor was on board bow- 
ing low before Constance and welcoming the tribe back 
to their old camping-place. 

“ It was Uncle Perry’s idea for me to dress up like 
this,” she explained ; “ these are turkey feathers,” touch- 
ing her head-dress, “ and this blanket is one Aunt Perry 
made by sewing strips of blue and red flannel together.” 

“ But where did you get the canoe ? ” asked Eunice. 

“ The canoe and paddle Uncle Perry bought for me 
from some Indians who came down the river since you 
were here,” replied Elinor ; “ one of the Indian girls 
taught me to paddle. Uncle Perry says that he will 
keep it here for me, and then I will want to come here 
for my vacation every year.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Perry came down to the shore to wel- 
come their friends. 

“ You must come right up to the house for supper,” 
insisted Mrs. Perry ; “ the table is all spread in the or- 
chard, and there’s a good clam stew ready to serve as 
soon as you will be ready to have it. Why ! here is a 
new little girl ! ” she exclaimed as Constance introduced 
Mary. “I declare I shall have to plan some special 
good times while you are here so that all these girls 
will want to come and see Elinor next summer.” 


57 


House-Boat Party 

Even Captain Penrith was persuaded to go up to the 
orchard for supper, and he acknowledged that the clam 
stew was the best he had ever tasted. “ Maybe it’s be- 
cause I’m so tired of my own cooking that this tasted 
so good,” he confided to Dannie on their way back to 
the landing. 

“ I like your clam stews just as well as Mrs. Perry’s,” 
declared Dannie handsomely. 

“ Do you now ! Well, I calculate that I do fairly 
well,” replied Captain Penrith, “ and we all like a word 
of praise, I reckon.” 

Elinor had persuaded Mrs. Newman to consent to 
Eunice staying all night at the farm. Eunice was to 
tell Elinor all about the plans for the Wawenock cere- 
monies, and both the girls promised to be at the land- 
ing in good season the next morning. But at nine 
o’clock they had not appeared. The house-boat party 
all landed, and when ten o’clock came and there was 
nothing to be seen of either Elinor or Eunice, Mrs. 
Newman sent Dannie up to the farmhouse to find out 
the reason for their delay. 

Dannie was gone only a short time when he came 
running back across the field with the news that the 
girls had started for the shore just after eight o’clock. 

“ I guess that we needn’t be frightened,” said Dan- 


158 Grandpa s Git tie Girls' 

nie, “ for when I told Mrs. Perry that we hadn’t seen 
them, she just smiled and said, ‘Well, I guess they are 
safe and sound, and perhaps you will see them pretty 
soon.’ ” 

Dannie had hardly finished speaking when Miss 
Abitha exclaimed : “ What is that ? ” and at that in- 
stant a long arrow, tipped with a crimson feather, fell 
at Constance’s feet, and then came a long call from the 
edge of the woods and two figures, wearing blankets 
and head-dress of feathers, and carrying bows and ar- 
rows, appeared marching very slowly across the field. 
As they drew nearer they called out, “Welcome! 
Welcome! Wawenocks,” and were soon making Con- 
stance a speech, asking her and her tribe to follow them 
to the woods. 

This was quickly agreed on, and the girls, wondering 
what new pleasure was in store for them, walked off, 
one by one, Indian file, followed by Miss Abitha, Mrs. 
Newman, grandpa and Dannie. 


CHAPTEK XVIII 


A FAVORING STORM 

Elinor and Eunice took them along a pretty, fern- 
bordered wood path, which led through a grove of pine 
and spruce-trees and soon brought them to a little 
clearing through which ran a stream of clear, dancing 
water. 

Near the border of the stream a large circle had been 
marked olf with green boughs, and in the centre of this 
circle was a raised bank of moss and pine boughs, and 
to this Elinor and Eunice led the “ chief.” Each mem- 
ber of the tribe was then presented with a beautiful 
ash bow and two arrows, tipped with scarlet feathers. 
Elinor explained that these had been purchased of the 
“ real Indians,” and also that her uncle had set up a 
mark for them to fire at on the other side of the stream. 

Mary was now led away by Elinor and Eunice, and 
on her return she, too, wore a head-dress of turkey 
feathers. She knelt before the chief and vowed to be 
a faithful and good Wawenock, and the tribe then hur- 
ried to cross the stream and begin practice with their 
bows and arrows. 


i59 


160 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ It is the same as English archery,” said Grandpa 
Newman, as he watched them approvingly ; “ and there 
is no better or more graceful exercise for girls. I think 
I must put up a mark at Pine Tree Farm so the girls 
can keep up their practice.” 

“ It would be a fine idea for Miss Wilson to include 
archery with the school sports,” said Miss Abitha ; “ I 
must tell her about it.” 

“ Grandpa Newman, the chief of the Wawenocks 
wishes you to please sit on the tribal throne,” said Lamb, 
taking her grandpa by the hand and leading him to- 
ward the mound of moss and pine boughs. 

Mr. Newman obeyed smilingly, and then looked up 
a little surprised at the procession of archers forming 
just before him. The Glidden twins headed the file, 
and as they marched toward him he was reminded of 
the marching and bowing he had witnessed only yester- 
day on the promenade deck of the “ Water Witch.” 

As Adrienne and Antoinette reached him they both 
said together : 

“ We want to thank you for the best time we ever 
had. We shall always remember your kindness to 
us.” 

“ Well ! well ! ” murmured Grandpa Newman, but 
before he could say a word there were Mary and Dan- 


House-Boat Party 161 

me Woody ear, all smiles and dimples, both looking at 
him affectionately and saying in concert : 

“We thank you very much ; and we will never for- 
get all your goodness.” 

“ There ! there ! ” said Grandpa Newman, a little 
huskiness in his voice, and the next moment Kose 
Mason and Myrtle Green had taken the place of the 
Woody ear children and were saying : 

“ For the best time any girls ever had we want to 
thank you ; and we think you have been as good and 
kind to us as any one could be.” 

“ I declare ! I declare ! ” whispered Grandpa New- 
man, moving uneasily upon his throne as Miss Abitha 
came up with her message of thanks. Constance and 
Eunice were close behind her, but before they could 
speak Grandpa Newman had sprung to his feet and had 
his arms about his little granddaughters. 

“ I won’t be thanked ! ” he exclaimed. “ Why, this 
has all been for my own pleasure ! The idea of thank- 
ing me for having a good time in good company.” 
While he stood with his arms about Constance and 
Eunice the others all joined hands and danced about 
them saying, “ Thank you, thank you, thank you,” 
until Grandpa Newman broke through the circle and 
started down the wood path. The girls were about to 


162 Grandpa s Git tie Girls 

follow him when they heard Mr. Perry’s voice, and in 
a few moments Grandpa Newman came back accom- 
panied by Elinor’s aunt and uncle. 

“ It’s a pretty warm day in the open,” declared Mr. 
Perry. “ I think the tribe will be wise to stay here in 
the shade.” 

“ This brook is a perfectly safe place to go wading,” 
suggested Mrs. Newman ; and, headed by Rose Mason 
and Constance, the “ tribe ” started to wade down the 
clear stream. 

“ It isn’t so much fun as to wade in the Atlantic 
Ocean,” declared Lamb. 

“ But we know we can get on dry land any minute, 
and I like that,” said Adrienne Glidden, remembering 
her struggle to keep afloat in her last wading ex- 
pedition. 

While the girls and Dannie waded down the stream 
the older members of the party sat about the “ throne ” 
and talked over the happy days of the voyage. 

“ The trip is not over yet,” said Grandpa Newman. 
“ I have written Henry to persuade grandma that we 
ought to do a little exploring up-river, and after a day 
or so at Pine Tree Farm I want to take her on board 
and visit one or two of the lakes at the head of the 
river.” 


House-Boat Party 163 

“ I think I will stay at home for that part of the 
cruise,” said young Mrs. Newman. 

“ Wish that we could borrow that nice Woody ear 
girl and boy for the winter,” said Mr. Perry. “I ex- 
pect Dannie and I would have a weather observatory, 
a wireless telegraph station, and discover several con- 
stellations before another summer.” 

It was sunset when they were ready to start for thd*" 
shore. The girls bade Elinor good-bye, and the bows 
and arrows were declared to be just what they had 
wanted to make them feel like real Wawenocks. 

“Your last night on board the ‘Water Witch’ this 
trip,” said Grandpa Newman, as they stood on the 
landing waiting for Captain Penrith to come ashore for 
them. They all looked toward the house-boat and at 
that moment there was a chorus of exclamations, for 
from the railings, and flag-post, and all about the 
“ Water Witch ” small points of lights began to show 
until it looked as if crowds of fireflies had settled all 
over the big boat. 

“ Japanese lanterns ! ” declared Adrienne. 

“ That is what Captain Penrith was about, eh ? ” said 
Grandpa Newman. And when Captain Penrith ap- 
peared he was praised and commended for the beauti- 
ful illumination. 


164 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ I thought I’d like to do something special for the 
last night,” he said, as if to excuse himself ; “ and I 
have taken the liberty to have a little something extra 
for supper.” 

The “ back porch ” was lit with large lanterns and 
the table daintily spread. There was no boiled lobster 
to-night, but there were pitchers of cool lemonade, 
sliced chicken and ham, a delicious salad, a plate of 
wonderful biscuit, and as a final touch a big cake was 
brought on, which made them all exclaim in admira- 
tion, for on top was a small sugar model of the “ Water 
Witch.” 

“ I’m glad we are going up the river,” said Captain 
Penrith ; “ I declare I shan’t know what to do when 
this cruise is really over. You won’t find nicer folks 
than I’ve had for passengers on this trip.” 

“ But it will be nice to get home,” said Dannie. 

“ Why, yes,” agreed Captain Penrith ; “ but sailor- 
men like me are more at home on water than on 
land.” 

Just before bedtime the sky grew hazy, and a little 
breeze crept across the quiet river. 

“ I do believe it is going to blow up a storm,” said 
Captain Penrith. “ To-day has been a real weather- 
breeder, anyway. These dreadful pleasant days are 


House-Boat Party 165 

apt to be dangerous. I guess I’d better put out an 
extra anchor.” 

The captain’s predictions were justified. By mid- 
night there was a strong wind blowing, and the rain 
was coming down in torrents. The girls lay awake for 
some time listening to the water dashing against the 
boat, but at last it sent them to sleep. “ I feel as if I 
were in a cradle,” Lamb whispered sleepily. 

It was not morning when Grandpa Newman awoke 
suddenly. The “ Water Witch ” seemed to him to be 
moving rapidly through the water, and he decided to 
dress and go on deck. As he opened the door from 
the passageway to the forward deck a gust of wind 
nearly took him off his feet, but he managed to close 
the door, and stood close against the cabin and peered 
out into the storm. 

“ We have surely broken away from our moorings,” 
he decided, as he tried to see if the launch was safely 
fastened to the larger craft. He called to Captain 
Penrith and was greatly relieved when the captain and 
Dannie answered him from the launch. 

“Are we being swept out to sea, captain?” asked 
Grandpa Newman anxiously. 

“ I’m all turned round, sir,” responded the captain ; 
“ if the wind is so’west, as I believe it to be, we are 


166 Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

headed straight for Christmas Cove, but if it is so’east, 
as it ain’t likely to be, we are bound to fetch up 
on Mr. Perry’s front steps. But there ain’t a thing 
we can do till the darkness is gone.” 

Dannie kept very close to Captain Penrith, but his 
eyes were lifted, and he wondered where all the stars 
were in that thick curtain of storm at night. Gradu- 
ally the wind lessened, a gray light could be seen in 
the distance. The “Water Witch” ceased rolling. 
The gray light changed to silver, and little darts of 
crimson and gold began to show. Gradually the morn- 
ing came. The night of storm and danger was over, 
and Constance and Rose came out from their cabin in 
time to see the sun creep up from behind a far-off line 
of trees and shine down the river and green fields along 
its banks. 

“ Where are we, grandpa ? ” asked Constance won- 
deringly. “ Have we been sailing all night ? ” 

“ The wind was dead south,” muttered Captain Pen- 
rith, “ and it’s pushed us right along up the river in as 
straight a course as we could wish to go. Yes, sir,” 
and he turned toward Grandpa Newman, “ we are 
pretty near the point we started from a month ago.” 

By this time the whole party were on deck, and 
there were many exclamations of wonder to find them 


House-Boat Party 167 

journey so nearly finished. Captain Penrith and 
Grandpa Newman busied themselves in putting the 
“ Water Witch” in good order, and Miss Abitha, Mrs. 
Newman and Rose volunteered to prepare breakfast, 
and at an unusually early hour they were drinking their 
hot coffee and enjoying the crisp bacon and hot corn 
muffins. 

By noon their landing-place was in sight, and when 
the boat was moored Constance and her grandfather 
decided to start at once for the farm. As they pre- 
pared to land Dannie called out: “ There’s Jimmie! 
There’s my brother Jimmie ! ” An instant later Miss 
Abitha exclaimed, “ And there is my father,” and 
Mr. Eben Bean and Jimmie Woodyear could be seen 
coming down to the shore. Then there was the sound 
of wheels ; some one called out “ Whoa ! ” and then 
Grandma Newman and her son came into sight. 

“Mother was bound to make an early start,” ex- 
plained Mr. Henry Newman. “ She was sure you 
would come last night before the storm.” 

“ No, we came with the storm,” replied his father, 
and had time to say no more, for Constance and Eunice 
had taken possession of their father, and the whole 
group were exchanging greetings. 

“ Oh, grandmother ! ” said Lamb, as she showed her 


1 68 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

grandmother “ the back porch,” and tried to persuade 
her to mount to the roof ; “ we have had a lovely time, 
but the very best part of it is coming home.” 

“ Yes, dear,” said grandma, nodding her head wisely, 
“ that is always the best part of any journey.” 


CHAPTER XIX 


A NEW TRIBE 

The day after reaching Pine Tree Farm Constance 
and Eunice persuaded Grandma Newman to go down 
to where the “Water Witch” lay moored; and, ac- 
companied by Miss Abitha, they set out. 

“ Rose is to begin teaching school next month,” said 
Constance thoughtfully, as old Lion trotted down the 
smooth road ; “ it makes her seem really grown up.” 

“ But she isn’t quite eighteen,” said Miss Abitha ; 
“ we must do all we can to make her enjoy her last 
school-day vacation. She will be here two weeks 
longer.” 

“But Myrtle and the Gliddens can only stay one 
week more,” said Eunice mournfully. “What can we 
do that week, grandma, so that they will say it was 
the best week of all ? ” 

“Well,” said grandma gravely, “I should think you 
would give them a house-boat party up the river, and 
ask your poor old grandmother to go along ! ” 

Eunice gave a little jump. “Will you, really, 
grandma ? ” 

169 


170 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ If I should be asked properly to go up the river, 
where the water is reasonably smooth, and where I 
could step ashore often, I really think that I should 
go,” replied Mrs. Newman. 

“ I was wishing only this morning that we could go 
up the river,” said Constance. 

“ Your mother will have to stay at home this trip,” 
continued grandma ; “ but perhaps I'll let Abitha 
go.” 

“ Thank you, ma’am,” said Miss Abitha, very meekly. 

They found the captain busy putting the house-boat 
in order, and he listened to their plan for a trip up- 
river with evident approval. 

“Yes, ma’am; I can go just as well as not,” he re- 
plied to Mrs. Newman’s question, “ and I should admire 
to, especially if you are planning to take Dannie. He 
was help as well as company.” 

“We will take Dannie if his parents are willing,” 
said grandma. 

She looked the house-boat over approvingly. 

“ I really think that I shall enjoy sitting on the roof 
with my knitting,” she said. “ Your grandfather has 
been urging me to go on this boat ever since he got 
home. Now I’ll tell him that we will start as soon as 
he is ready.” 


House-Boat Party 171 

“You shall be a Wawenock, grandma ; as chief I 
will accept you into the tribe,” said Constance. 

“ I ought to be an Abenaki,” responded grandma. 
“ You know I was born on the banks of the Kennebec, 
near the hunting grounds of the 4 gentle Abenakis.’ ” 

“ But the Wawenocks were peaceful, too,” said Lamb. 

44 I think I must be an Abenaki,” insisted grandma 
laughingly. “Why, when John Alden came up the 
Kennebec on a trading voyage from Plymouth, the 
Abenakis received him kindly, told him many of their 
traditions, and he went back to Plymouth with the 
news that the Abenaki tribe were nearly a civilized 
people. Their children had games, one of which was 
something like 4 Hawk and Chickens.’ And in this In- 
dian game the little Abenaki girls, instead of saying 
4 Eny, meny, mony, mi,’ as you do, said 4 Hony, keebe, 
laweis, agles, huntip ! ’ and whoever was left, after all 
the rest were counted out, had to be the 4 old Swamp 
Woman.’ ” 

44 Oh, grandma ! Why didn’t you ever tell us about 
these Indians before ? ” said Lamb. 44 Now we can’t be 
Abenakis.” 

44 Why, I don’t know as we ever talked about Indian 
tribes before,” replied grandma, 44 but there is a good 
deal to tell about the Abenakis. The women of the 


172 Grandpa s Little Girls 

tribe used to plait rushes into big mats for their wig- 
wams ; they strung shells into wonderful necklaces, and 
they made beautiful moccasins. There is a poem about 
them ; I can remember just one verse,” and grandma 
repeated these lines : 

u Wake, wake, little chieftain, wake ! 

Thine are the eastern lands ; 

For thee did the Good Great Spirit make 
Forest, and hill, and stream, and lake, 

And the river’s shining strands. 

Thine they are while the last wind blows, 

And the Long- Land- Water flows and flows.” 

Grandpa Newman was delighted when he found that 
grandma really wanted to go up the river on the 
“ Water Witch.” 

“ We can start to-morrow,” he declared ; and when 
Mrs. Woody ear was asked to let Mary and Dannie go 
also, she gladly agreed. 

Kose, Myrtle and the twins were as pleased as Con- 
stance and Eunice. But they were all sorry to leave 
young Mrs. Newman at the farm. 

“ I won’t be too strict with the children,” grandma 
promised ; “ of course you know I’m always very firm, 
but I will remember that this is the end of vacation 


>73 


House-Boat Party 

time.” This made young Mr. and Mrs. Newman smile, 
for Grandma Newman was always so indulgent to her 
grandchildren that their own parents often accused her 
of spoiling them. 

Dannie, telescope under his arm, was the first one to 
appear at the house-boat on the morning set for the 
cruise up-river. Captain Penrith gave him a warm 
welcome. 

“ You’ll make a fine navigator, Dannie ; I can see 
that plain enough,” he said. “ ’T won’t be long before 
you’ll be making charts of this river for captains to 
use.” Dannie shook his head soberly. 

“ I shan’t have time,” he replied. “ I’ve got to earn 
money to go to college with, because I can’t be an as- 
tronomer unless I understand mathematics. I’ll have 
to figure distances between stars and planets, you 
know.” 

“ That’s so,” responded the captain, as if he had en- 
tirely forgotten a plain fact ; “ but what are you calcu- 
lating on learning about the heavens while we are up- 
river ? ” 

Dannie shook his head. “ I can’t tell, captain ; but 
there’s always something new to see. Here comes 
Miss Abitha ! ” and Dannie put his telescope carefully 
down beside his small bundle of clothing and ran to 


174 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

meet her ; for he saw that she was carrying a large cov- 
ered basket, and Dannie was always ready to help. 

“ This is almost too heavy for you, Dannie,” replied 
his good friend when he asked to take the basket ; “ but 
you can take hold of the handle and help. I wanted 
to get it here before the others came. Perhaps Cap- 
tain Penrith will let me put it aboard the launch until 
I want to use it. You see, none of them know about 
it, and I am not going to tell you just yet, Dannie ! ” 

Dannie nodded smilingly. “ Will you tell me if I 
should guess right ? ” asked Dannie ; but Miss Abitha 
shook her head, and the heavy basket was given into 
Captain Penrith’s charge. 

“ How far up is this river navigable, captain ? ” asked 
Miss Abitha. 

“ We could go quite a distance, ma’am,” responded 
the captain. “ You see there is a chain of lakes begin- 
ning some twenty miles above here, and I think we 
shall see a good many places of interest. There ain’t a 
fall or rapid, and the water is deep with just a fair cur- 
rent.” 

Before Captain Penrith could continue his description 
of the upper waters of the river the rest of the party 
came in sight. Constance and Kose were ahead, then 
came Grandpa and Grandma Newman, closely followed 


House-Boat Party \ 75 

by the Glidden twins and Mary Woodyear, while Lamb 
and Myrtle were the last of the procession. 

“ No one to see us start on this adventurous voyage,” 
declared grandpa, as he led grandma carefully across 
the gangplank ; and then shouted “ All aboard ! ” which 
brought the girls hurrying and scrambling down the 
bank. 

Dannie was to sleep on the launch with Captain Pen- 
rith, and had already put his telescope and Miss Abitha’s 
basket in the small cabin. The launch now shot ahead, 
the “Water Witch” moved after it, as if against its 
will, and Grandma Newman, standing on the front end 
of the promenade deck, saw the familiar shores slip by, 
and looked at the happy faces around her and acknowl- 
edged that there was no way of traveling as pleasant 
as on a house-boat. 

“ Just think, Kose, we are really to see the Lake of 
the Woods at last,” said Constance as the two friends 
watched the staunch little launch pulling them along so 
steadily. 

“ I don’t know how I can thank you all for this 
happy summer,” responded Kose. “ When I am a 
schoolma’am I shall look back on these days and en- 
joy them all over again.” 

Constance looked down at the little gold medal which 


176 Grandpa s Git tie Girls 

swung from her neck on a slender gold chain, and read 
the words engraved upon it, “ Justice, Faith, Kindness.” 
“ Bose ! ” she exclaimed, “ what a little savage I was 
when I first came to Miss Wilson’s school. Grandpa 
and Grandma Newman had just spoiled me. I hadn’t 
an idea in my head of what a girl ought to be until I 
saw you ; and even then it took me some time to realize 
that you were just the kind of a girl that my mother 
and father wanted me to be. Don’t talk about thank- 
ing any of this family for anything. What would have 
become of me if you hadn’t been my friend ? ” and 
Constance slid her hand under Bose’s arm and gave it 
an affectionate squeeze. “ And you know, Bose, mother 
always says that you are her eldest girl, so it’s all in 
the family.” 

Bose made no response. She had no father or 
mother ; no home of her own, and the affection and 
kindness shown her by the Newman family made her 
very grateful. 

“Your grandma was telling me about the Abenaki 
Indians who used to live on the banks of the Kennebec 
Biver,” she said, “and of one custom among their 
young men.. When a brave was old enough to fish and 
hunt for himself, he selected a companion, a friend, and 
those two vowed loyalty to each other. This custom 


House-Boat Party 177 

was called the 4 Nidoba,’ and meant that each one was 
sure of a loyal friend.” 

“ We’ll follow that custom,” responded Constance 
enthusiastically. 44 I wish it had been one of the cus- 
toms of our tribe. Rose, remember always that we are 
4 Nidoba.’ ” As she spoke the two girls rose to their 
feet and clasped hands, making a contract of friend- 
ship, which had begun at school, and was to last a life- 
time. 

Grandma Newman enjoyed luncheon on the 44 back 
porch,” and said that it looked to her as if the 44 Water 
Witch ” was headed straight for the woods. 44 1 can’t 
see any sign of an opening ahead,” she declared anx- 
iously, as the craft moved steadily up-stream. 44 1 be- 
lieve Captain Penrith has got to the head of the stream 
and don’t know it ; and it ain’t near supper time yet.” 
But before Grandma Newman finished speaking Myrtle 
Green pointed to a glimpse of water which could be 
seen beyond the woods. 

44 My land ! ” exclaimed Grandma Newman ; 44 is that 
launch going to pull us right across the woods ? ” 

But now their course changed a little, and they soon 
rounded the wooded point, sailed along a narrow chan- 
nel where the house-boat was near to the shore on both 
sides, and came out into a lake. The shores were 


178 Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

deeply wooded, long shadows fell across its quiet waters, 
and no other boat was in sight. 

“ This is the Lake of the Woods,” announced Grandpa 
Newman; and the “Water Witch” was allowed to 
drift very near a bank shaded by overhanging pines. 
Here she was made fast and supper prepared. 

It was nearly a full moon, the air was soft and 
warm, and they all went on shore and sat down be- 
neath the big trees. Adrienne and Antoinette sang 
some of their school songs, and then a happy silence 
fell upon the little party. Captain Penrith and Dan- 
nie went on board the launch, and when Grandpa New- 
man looked at his watch and exclaimed, “ Ten o’clock,” 
grandma declared that it was the shortest evening of 
the whole summer. 

“ All aboard,” called grandpa, and one after another 
went down the bank. 

“ Where’s Lamb ? ” asked Grandpa Newman ; “ has 
she gone on board ? ” 

“I don’t think so,” said Miss Abitha. A hurried 
search proved that Lamb was not on the “ Water 
Witch.” 

“ I haven’t seen her since supper,” said Constance. 
“ I thought she was with Mary and Myrtle.” 

“No,” said Mary, “ I haven’t seen her since supper.” 








■Ww - . 

K* 




\ IIAPPV SILENCE FELL UPON THE LITTLE PARTY 





















*79 


House-Boat Party 

“ I’ll call Penrith to bring a lantern on shore, and 
we’ll soon find her,” said Grandpa Newman. “ Lamb 
is a great sleepy-head, and is probably taking a nap 
under one of these big trees where the shadows are too 
deep for us to see her. You girls call her name, per- 
haps that will wake her up.” And cries of “ Lamb ! 
Lamb ! Eunice ! Eunice ! ” echoed through the still- 
ness, but no response came. Captain Penrith appeared 
with the lantern and a careful search was made along 
the bank, but at midnight no sign of the missing girl 
could be found. 


CHAPTER XX 


AT SPRING POND 

“ I don’t see where Lamb can be,” said Constance 
anxiously, as they all gathered around Grandpa New- 
man on the promenade deck. “ Of course she wouldn’t 
start off into the woods by herself in the evening. She 
must be near, and she must be asleep.” 

Constance was right, for while her anxious friends 
called her name, peered into the shadows, and wondered 
if there were bears in those deep woods, Eunice was 
peacefully slumbering close within their reach. 

When they had all gone on shore after supper she 
had noticed the small rowboat, the tender to the launch, 
swinging easily from its fastening at the side of the 
house-boat. 

“ It would be just like a big cradle,” thought the 
little girl. It took but a slight pull on the rope to 
bring the boat near enough for her to step into it. 
Captain Penrith’s coat lay across one seat, and Lamb 
slid into a comfortable position with her head against 
the coat and looked admiringly across the smooth lake, 
180 


House-Boat Party 181 

with the moon throwing silvery glints here and there. 
She was just about to call Mary Woody ear to come and 
enjoy the “ cradle ” with her when the twins began to 
sing and soothed by the gentle motion of the boat and 
by their voices she went sound asleep ; nor did the re- 
peated calling of her name disturb her slumbers. 

“ I don’t see what we can do,” said Grandpa New- 
man. There was a great fear in his heart that his little 
grandaughter might have slipped overboard; and he 
reproached himself sadly that he had not kept a closer 
watch on his party. 

Mary Woody ear stood close by the railing looking 
down at the water. Tears were very near her eyes. 
It seemed a terrible thing to her that Lamb could not 
be found. She watched the small rowboat swinging 
gently in the current, and as she looked it seemed to 
her that there was something in the boat. She wiped 
her eyes, looked more closely and was sure. 

“ Miss Abitha ! ” she called, and in a moment Miss 
Abitha’s tall figure was beside her. 

“ What is it, Mary ? ” 

“ I don’t know ; I’m not sure, but isn’t there some- 
thing in that little boat ? ” 

Miss Abitha’s eyes followed Mary’s finger and after 
a second’s hesitation she whispered, “ Thank heaven ! ” 


182 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

and Mary knew that the “ something in the boat ” was 
Eunice. 

“ Come here, Mrs. Newman,” called Miss Abitha, so 
joyfully that Grandma Newman almost ran across the 
deck sure that her friend had good news. 

“ Look ! ” said Miss Abitha pointing toward the row- 
boat ; and grandma’s trembling lingers grasped Miss 
Abitha’s arm. 

“ Is it our Lamb ? ” she whispered. 

“ I am almost sure it is,” answered Miss Abitha, and 
Grandpa Newman hurried down the steep stairs fol- 
lowed by all the others. 

The little boat was drawn close to the side of the 
house-boat and Captain Penrith held it steadily while 
Grandpa Newman lifted the small figure out and, with- 
out awakening her, carried her to her berth and laid 
her gently down. 

“ Now everybody to bed,” he said, and with thank- 
ful hearts they prepared for rest. 

Lamb was the first one to awake the next morn- 
ing. 

“ Why ! ” she exclaimed, sitting up in her berth, 
“ I’ve got all my clothes on.” She rubbed her eyes 
vigorously, and again exclaimed, “ And I don’t remem- 
ber going to bed at all. I remember getting into the 


House-Boat Party 183 

little boat and hearing the girls sing ; and that’s all I 
do remember.” 

By this time the other girls had surrounded her, and 
told her of the search of the previous night, and of how 
Mary had discovered her in the small boat. 

“ Constance knows how sound I sleep,” explained 
Lamb. “ She might have known that I was fast asleep 
somewheres.” 

“ I did,” responded her sister. “ I said that you were 
asleep.” 

“Well, then of course you knew I was all right,” 
concluded Lamb, in so satisfied a tone that even 
Grandma Newman joined in the girls’ laughter. 

After breakfast they all decided that they would like 
to sail around the lake, and the u Water Witch ” again 
followed the little launch, and from the upper deck the 
house-boat party admired the smooth shores, the big 
trees, and the quiet loveliness of the lake. 

“ How do we get out of it ? ” questioned Grandma 
Newman, and her question was quickly answered by 
the sight of a broad passage of water not far 
ahead. 

“ That strait will take us to Spring Pond,” volun- 
teered Miss Abitha. 

“ 4 A strait is a body of water connecting two larger 


184 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

bodies of water,’ ” quoted Myrtle Green, recalling her 
early lessons in geography. 

“ This is as far up-river as we can go this trip,” said 
Grandpa Newman, as they came out into Spring Pond. 
“ And I think we can put up the tents and sleep one 
night on shore. We must plan to get back to Pine 
Tree Farm before Sunday, as I want all this party to 
go to church with me Sunday morning.” 

“We can’t have a clambake here, can we?” said 
Dannie, a little regretfully. 

“ No, sir ; we can’t,” responded Captain Penrith, as 
he looked along the shores of the pond for a good land- 
ing-place ; “ but there’s plenty of white perch in this 
lake, and as soon as we make a landing you can 
catch me a mess and I’ll cook as good a chowder as 
you’ll wish to taste.” 

It was well past the noon hour when the “ Water 
Witch” was safely moored near a pleasant, sandy 
beach, and the house-boat party landed and made 
preparations for a camp. 

“ Now, Dannie,” said Miss Abitha, “ do you think 
you can bring that heavy basket of mine ashore ? ” 

“ Yes, indeed,” said the boy, and wondered again 
what the mysterious basket could contain. 

“ Carry it to that big oak tree,” continued Miss 


House-Boat Party 185 

Abitha, pointing to a big tree a short distance from 
the camp, “ and put it behind the tree where no one 
will be apt to see it.” 

“ Yes, ma’am,” replied Dannie. He was very sure 
that Miss Abitha had some delightful surprise in that 
basket ; and as he tugged it up from the beach he was 
careful that no one should see him, and the basket 
reached the oak-tree without attracting any attention. 

The day proved very warm, and they were all glad 
to keep in the shadow of the trees. Constance and 
Rose were the only ones of the party who seemed dis- 
posed for exercise, and they had taken the small boat 
and paddled lazily along the shore, on the outlook for 
some plant or blossom which they could add to their 
collection. 

“ Rose,” said Constance thoughtfully, “ I wish that 
you would tell me how you manage always to do the 
right thing. You see, after this summer it will be 
different. You will be grown up, and of course you’ll 
know what to do, but when you were a little girl, not 
as old as Lamb, Miss Wilson says that she could always 
depend on you. How did you know how ? ” 

Rose lifted her paddle threateningly. “Constance 
Newman ! ” she exclaimed laughingly, “ you ought to 
be ashamed to make me feel so ashamed.” 


i86 


Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

Constance shook her head soberly. 44 Honest, Rose ! ” 
she responded, “ we are 4 Nidobas,’ sworn friends, and 
you ought to tell me. Ever since I knew you I have 
known that you were true blue ; and I want to know 
what makes you so.” 

Rose’s paddle dipped into the quiet water again, and 
this time she answered more seriously. 

44 1 do have a little plan, Constance ; but perhaps it is 
rather a selfish one. You know it just as well as I do. 
I try and think of it always. It is 4 Do unto others as 
you would have them do unto you.’ I forget it, of 
course, now and then ; and am always sorry. But 
when I do remember it it makes me want to be kind 
to everybody, and fair, and ready to see their good 
qualities. I guess it must be your plan, too,” she con- 
cluded, 44 or you would not have won that medal at 
school.” 

44 1 won that medal by trying to be just like you, 
Rose,” declared her friend. 

Rose shook her head soberly. 44 That isn’t fair,” she 
said ; 44 my little plan is the best way.” 

44 All right, it is an easy one to remember. My 
father taught me that years ago.” 

The girls had kept so much in the shadow of the 
trees along the shore that they had not noticed the 


House-Boat Party 187 

little dark clouds which had crept over the sky, and 
not until a spatter of rain dashed in their faces, and a 
distant peal of thunder fell upon their ears did they 
realize that a shower was upon them. 

They turned the boat instantly toward the shore. 

“ There isn’t much shelter from these trees,” said 
Constance. “ Can’t we pull the boat up and turn it 
sideways ? I hate to get soaked as we will if this rain 
keeps on.” 

Fortunately the boat was not very heavy, and both 
Rose and Constance were strong, with well-trained 
muscles, and they found it an easy matter to draw the 
boat close to the bank and turn it sideways. Then 
they crept under its shelter and found themselves well 
protected from the storm. 

“ It won’t last long,” said Rose ; “ it is coming down 
in torrents ; and when it is over we will go back to 
camp as dry as when we left, and they won’t know 
how we escaped a wetting.” 

“ I hope they won’t be anxious about us,” said Con- 
stance. 

“ There, you are using the little plan,” Rose reminded 
her. 

Grandma Newman was a little uneasy about their 
absence, but after Grandpa Newman and Miss Abitha 


i88 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

had both said : “ Why, what could happen to Rose and 
Constance ? ” she did not worry, although she confided 
to Eunice that she supposed water would wet Rose 
and Constance as well as other people, and was obliged 
to laugh at Eunice’s surprised look as she answered : 

“Why, yes, grandma, dear; only you know that 
Rose and Constance would be sure to get where the 
rain wouldn’t come.” 

“ How do you suppose Constance and Rose know 
just what they ought to do ? ” questioned Myrtle 
thoughtfully, as the girls all gathered in the cabin to 
wait for the shower to cease. 

Adrienne Glidden looked at Myrtle as if surprised at 
the question. “ Why, Myrtle Green ! ” she exclaimed, 
“ they think about what they are going to do, and then 
when they decide what is right they do it.” 

“ Humph,” responded Myrtle, “ that sounds easy, but 
I have tried it and it isn’t.” 

“ Ho,” said Mary Woodyear, “ but I guess the more 
you think about it the easier it is. You see, if you 
have little brothers and sisters you learn a great deal 
from them ; because you don’t expect them to do any 
thinking and so you have to do it for them.” 

Adrienne Glidden nodded approvingly. “ That’s the 
way with Rose and Constance,” she declared ; “ they 


House-Boat Party 189 

are older than the rest of us, and they remember it, 
and think about what is best to do and do it ; and so 
we all like them.” 

The rain was coming more slowly, and in a few mo- 
ments a gleam of sunshine was seen, the sky cleared, 
and they all hurried up to the “ roof,” and looked up the 
pond for a sight of the little boat. It was not long 
before it came in sight. Rose and Constance were 
paddling briskly. As they came near the house-boat 
they began to sing, and them listeners wondered where 
they had learned the beautiful lines which rang out so 
musically : 

“ Thou shalt chase the deer with the starry eyes, 
And follow the stream where the salmon rise, 

In a boat that is like the moon. 

Soft like the curved white moon it goes, 

Where the Koonabecki flows and flows.” 

There was a chorus of applause from the listeners, 
and when Lamb exclaimed : 4 4 Look ! They are just as 
dry as when they started!” there was a murmur of 
laughter. Constance told of drawing the boat on 
shore and using it for a shelter, greatly to the admira- 
tion of her Grandpa Newman. 

“ No naps anywhere to-night,” he commanded as 


190 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

they finished supper, and gathered on the promenade 
deck. Captain Penrith had hung the Japanese lan- 
terns, and Dannie had brought pine boughs from the 
woods and woven them about the railings, so that the 
place seemed unusually festive. 

“ There ought to be deer in this part of the country,” 
said Grandpa Newman ; “ this pond is so clear and 
quiet, with woods near for safety and shelter, and a 
good chance for food along the banks. I should 
think ” 

Just at that moment there was a crashing noise from 
the shore and as they all turned to look they could 
plainly see the graceful figure of a deer just on the 
edge of the woodland. Its head was lifted and its 
eyes fixed upon the bright lights of the “ Water 
Witch.” 

Every one on board kept as quiet as possible. Lamb 
declared afterward that she knew that she didn’t breathe 
for five minutes. The deer came slowly toward the 
boat as if fascinated by the light, then some sudden 
movement on the launch startled it, and with a swift 
leap it bounded away and disappeared. Then there 
was a chorus of exclamations, and Miss Abitha said, 
“ Deer are the most curious animals in existence, and a 
bright light fascinates them. Hunters along these very 


House-Boat Party 191 

shores used to fasten big lanterns on the bow of their 
boats, and the poor, wild creatures would come peering 
at the light to be welcomed by a bullet. But now- 
adays men are more merciful, and the lantern or torch 
is used to bring them down to have their picture taken.” 

Very soon after this they all declared themselves 
ready for bed, and, talking over the pleasant happen- 
ings of the day, the girls all declared that each day of 
the house-boat party was proving more and more de- 
lightful. “ But it is only two days longer,” were 
Myrtle’s good-night words. 


CHAPTER XXl 
The basket under the oak 

The sun was just above the horizon the next morn- 
ing when Miss Abitha carefully left the cabin of the 
house-boat and made her way to the big oak-tree be- 
hind which Dannie had left the covered basket. 

She removed the cover and took out a number of 
packages, which she laid in a circle. At the very bot- 
tom of the basket was folded a bright-colored blanket 
and Miss Abitha spread this over the packages, put her 
basket back behind the tree, and then, as lightly as a 
girl, ran back to the house-boat. She found Captain 
Penrith and Dannie both on shore, and making prepa- 
rations to serve breakfast under the trees. They both 
looked at her in surprise. 

“Well, ma’am, I calculated none of you planned to 
sleep in the tents last night on account of the shower ! ” 
exclaimed Captain Penrith. 

“We all slept on the house-boat,” replied Miss Abitha 
smilingly, “ but I got up early, because this is my birth- 
day, and I like to start my year in right.” 

“ I declare ! ” replied Captain Penrith in a disap- 
192 


House-Boat Party 193 

pointed tone, “ I wish that you had thought to speak 
of it yesterday. I would have had something special 
for breakfast.” 

“ There’s time now to make griddle-cakes,” said Miss 
Abitha, “ and Mr. Newman likes those for breakfast.” 

“ I meant something special that you liked yourself, 
ma’am,” replied Captain Penrith. 

“ Oh, birthdays are to make other people happy, you 
know,” answered Miss Abitha, “-and we might begin 
with the griddle-cakes.” 

“ Just as you say, Miss Abitha,” responded the cap- 
tain a little mournfully ; but there were a few whis- 
pered words to Dannie which sent the boy running 
along the shore, and when they were all called to 
breakfast Miss Abitha found her chair garlanded with 
strands of wild clematis and at her plate was a covered 
dish. 

“ What’s all this ? ” inquired Grandpa Newman. 

“ It’s Miss Abitha’s birthday ! ” volunteered Dannie, 
“ so Captain Penrith and I trimmed her chair, and 
there are two nice perch in that covered dish ’specially 
for her.” 

“And griddle-cakes especially for you, Mr. New- 
man,” said Miss Abitha. 

Lamb had kept very close to Miss Abitha while this 


194 Grandpa s Little Girls 

conversation was going on, and now slipped a little 
package into her good friend’s hand. 

“ I didn’t forget it,” she whispered ; “ I made this 
before we started on our trip.” 

Miss Abitha turned a loving glance on the little girl, 
and unwrapped the package. A dainty hemstitched 
handkerchief lay in the white paper. 

“ To think that Lamb should be the one to remem- 
ber ! ” exclaimed Constance. 

“ Eunice was always a very thoughtful child,” said 
Grandma Newman proudly. 

Breakfast proved a very happy feast, and as soon as 
it was over Miss Abitha said that she wanted them all 
to follow her to the big oak-tree. 

“ I have planned to have a birthday celebration 
there,” she said, and they all wondered what surprise 
was in store for them. 

The gleam of the bright-colored blanket showed 
through the trees, and as they came near Miss Abitha 
asked Eunice and Mary Woody ear to lift it carefully, 
and to give what they found under it to those whose 
names were on the packages. 

“ This is for Dannie,” exclaimed Mary ; and Dannie 
was soon happy in looking over a wonderful book with 
colored charts of the heavenly bodies. 


195 


House-Boat Party 

“And this is for me!” continued Mary, and her 
package proved to contain a little work-bag, with 
needles, scissors, threads and a ball of wax. 

“ Captain Penrith,” called out Lamb, and the captain 
came forward all smiles, cap in hand, and received a 
little box which the girls insisted that he should open 
at once. 

“ I declare, ma’am,” he said making Miss Abitha a 
very polite bow, “nothing could have pleased me 
more,” and he held up a tiny compass, set in silver, 
which he proceded to fasten to his watch-chain. 

Constance, Rose, Lamb, and Myrtle each found a 
small box of candies in their package, as did Grandpa • 
and Grandma Newman, while the Glidden twins were 
each delighted with mounted photographs of Pine Tree 
Farm. 

“ There never was such a girl as Abitha ! ” declared 
Grandpa Newman as he and Lamb walked toward the 
house-boat ; “ and to think that my little Eunice was 
the only one to remember her,” and Grandpa Newman 
looked down approvingly at the little figure beside him. 

Lamb felt very happy. “ I guess I am learning to 
remember to try and make people happy,” she thought 
to herself. 

“ Grandpa ! ” she exclaimed suddenly, “ I have 


196 Grandpa s Little Girls’ 

thought of something that we can do for Miss 
Abitha ! ” 

“What is it?” questioned Grandpa Newman, and 
they both stopped while Eunice explained her plan. 

“ That’s a tine idea ! ” declared Grandpa Newman 
enthusiastically. “ You tell the girls about it and I 
will find your grandmother and tell her,” and the two 
separated. 

In a short time Constance, Eose, the twins, Myrtle 
and Mary and Lamb were talking busily together, and 
it was not long before Miss Abitha found herself left 
alone on the promenade deck. Not even Captain 
* Penrith was in sight. But one after another of the 
party appeared, and by lunch-time they were all near 
the beach. There were a good many smiles and 
nods exchanged among the younger members of the 
company, and all seemed in a hurry to finish luncheon, 
and, for a wonder, Captain Penrith did not urge them 
to be helped a second time to the snow custard which 
he made as an especial attention to Miss Abitha. 

“ Let’s go to walk in the woods,” suggested Lamb, 
in so serious a tone that the other girls all laughed 
heartily ; but Lamb did not seem to mind ; she took a 
firm grasp on Miss . Abitha’s arm and led the way, 
closely followed by the others. 


i 9 7 


House-Boat Party 

They had only gone a short distance when Miss 
Abitha noticed something hanging from a bough of a 
tree. 

“ What is that, Lamb ? ” she asked. 

“Why, what is it? You must look and see,” re- 
sponded Lamb seriously ; and Miss Abitha took hold of 
a swinging white package, suspended by a string from 
the green branch. 

“ It is a letter addressed to me,” said Miss Abitha. 

As they all gathered around she opened the wood- 
land missive and two crisp five dollar bills were dis- 
played, while on the paper about them was written, 
“ For Abitha from the old folks.” 

When this excitement was over the walking party 
went on, and it was not long before they came upon a 
small spruce-tree which seemed to think Christmas had 
arrived, for it was hung over with a number of pack- 
ages of all shapes, and they were all addressed to 
“ Miss Abitha Bean.” 

Captain Penrith’s gift was a piece of white' coral 
which had long been one of the ornaments of the 
cabin of his launch. Dannie had made a dainty basket 
of plaited grass and filled it with raspberries, and each 
of the girls had selected some one of their possessions 
as a gift for their good friend. 


198 Grandpa s Little Girls 

On their way back to the house-boat Lamb said : 
“Miss Abitha, your father told me the very last 
thing to be sure and give you a kiss from him on your 
birthday, and his very best love.” So the tall woman 
bent down to receive the greeting, and said gently, 
“ I knew my father didn’t forget.” 

“ We can sleep in the tents to-night,” said Grandma 
Newman as they gathered about the supper table. 

“This has been the very nicest day of the whole 
trip,” declared Lamb. 

“ You say that every day, Lamb,” said Constance 
laughingly. 

“ Well, every day is the nicest,” answered Lamb. 

Captain Penrith hung all the Japanese lanterns that 
evening, and Dannie built a little fire on the beach, 
and they all hoped that the deer would appear again ; 
but evidently its curiosity was satisfied, for it did not 
venture. They had all retired before ten, except 
Dannie, who promised to put out the fire carefully 
before going to his bed of fir boughs. He was sitting 
a little way from the fire looking at the distant stars 
and thinking of his new book when he heard the dip 
of oars a short distance away. He quietly threw sand 
over the fire and extinguished the last flickering blaze, 
and sat down again listening intently. 


House-Boat Party 199 

It was not long before he heard voices, and the dim 
shape of a boat was visible. 

“ I was sure that I saw a fire,” he heard some one 
say, and then another voice : 

“ Look at this ! It’s a regular Noah’s Ark. Had we 
better go on board ? ” 

Then Dannie felt that it was time to let the strangers 
know that some one was on hand to protect the “ Water 
Witch,” and he called out in his gruffest voice, u Boat 
ahoy ! ” 

His call brought Captain Penrith running to the 
beach, and Dannie pointed out the boat and told of the 
conversation he had overheard. Captain Penrith im- 
mediately repeated Dannie’s call, and the boat came 
nearer and a pleasant voice responded. 

“We are from a fishing-camp further up the pond, 
and came down to see what strange craft this was.” 

“ They spoke of going on board,” Dannie whispered 
to Captain Penrith, and the captain answered them very 
briefly, reminding them that it was rather a late hour for 
a visit, and asking them not to make any more noise as 
the others of the party were all asleep. 

The boat moved off, and Captain Penrith and Dan- 
nie heard a sullen voice say, “ You’ll be asleep next 
time we come.” 


200 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Captain Penrith decided that he would sleep on the 
launch the remainder of the night, and when the others 
awoke next morning they were surprised to see that 
all was in readiness for them to make a start as soon as 
the tents and cooking utensils could be taken on board. 

Captain Penrith told Grandpa Newman of their vis- 
itors and it was at once decided to go back to the Lake 
of the Woods. 

“ Constance,” said Rose, as the house-boat moved 
along across the beautiful lake, “ Lamb is growing more 
like you every day.” 

Constance looked at her friend smilingly. “ How 
queer you should say that, Rose,” she replied, “ when 
I have been flattering myself that my small sister was 
learning some of the fine qualities of my tall friend. 
Really, Rose, Lamb doesn’t look at all like me.” 

“ No,” replied Rose, “ I didn’t mean that she was 
growing to look like you, but that she was becoming 
more thoughtful for others.” 

“ Thank you, fair lady ! ” and Constance rose and 
made her friend a very graceful salutation. 

“ I have noticed her all this trip,” continued Rose ; 
“ she has been so careful to try and give Myrtle and the 
twins the best of all the good times, and since Mary 
Woody ear came Lamb has been as careful as any 


201 


House-Boat Party 

grown-up person could be that Mary should be the per- 
son first considered.” 

“ Of course,” replied Constance, “ they are her guests ; 
but I know what you mean, Rose ; and that is why I 
said that she was becoming like you. Perhaps she has 
found out your plan.” 

“ Oh, Constance ! ” said the older girl laughingly, 
“ you are a prejudiced person. None of us are as good 
and unselfish as Miss Abitha, after all. She put her 
birthday money straight into the ‘ Dannie Fund.’ ” 

They were all glad to get back to the Lake of the 
Woods. Grandpa Newman and Captain Penrith de- 
cided not to mention their evening visitors, and cau- 
tioned Dannie not to speak of it. The “ Water Witch ” 
was brought back to her former landing, and Captain 
Penrith said he would catch them a fine mess of trout 
for dinner. 

“ There’s a first-rate trout stream near here,” he told 
Grandpa Newman, and the two soon had their fish- 
poles and lines in readiness and started off after the 
trout. 

“ We’ll be back in good season,” said the captain, 
“ and Dannie can take care of you.” 

“Yes, sir,” replied the boy soberly and resolved to 
himself that he would keep a sharp outlook in case the 


202 Grandpa s Little Girls 

fishermen from Spring Pond should come down to the 
lower lake. 

Grandma Newman was sitting on the “ roof ” busy 
with her knitting, and the girls were all on shore look- 
ing for plants and flowers for their collection. Dan- 
nie was fishing from the end of the launch, now and 
then looking toward the head of the lake, when sud- 
denly he dropped his fish-line and exclaimed : “ There 
they are ! ” for a rowboat, rowed by two stalwart 
men, was coming down the lake directly toward the 
house-boat. 

“ Perhaps they are going down-river and won’t stop,” 
thought Dannie ; but in a moment he realized that the 
rowboat was headed for the launch. 

“ I mustn’t let them frighten Mrs. Newman,” he re- 
solved instantly. 

“ Hello, young man ! ” called out one of the rowers, 
as they came alongside the launch ; “ hope we didn’t 
frighten you away from Spring Pond ? ” 

Dannie looked at the men earnestly. They were 
both bare-headed, and tanned until they were nearly as 
brown as Indians. The speaker’s voice was pleasant, 
and his smile showed such white teeth, and made so 
many crinkles around his eyes that before he knew it 
Dannie was smiling back at him. 


House-Boat Party 203 

“ No, sir, you didn’t frighten us ; we just thought it 
was best to come down here,” replied the boy. 

“ Well, it’s given us a pretty morning’s work,” grum- 
bled the other, “ for my friend here was afraid you 
would think that we were pirates, and we came down 
to tell you that we were camping out at Spring Pond 
for our health.” 

“ And we brought these as a peace-olfering,” said 
the other, holding up a fine string of brook trout. 

Grandma Newman had heard the voices, and came 
to the railing of the house-boat in time to see the man 
offer Dannie the fish. She hurried down the stairs to 
Captain Penrith’s cupboard, and in a few moments 
called to Dannie from the “ back porch.” 

“ Dannie, perhaps the gentlemen would like a glass 
of lemonade ? ” she suggested, and the bareheaded 
fishermen quickly followed Dannie to the “ Water 
Witch,” and Grandma Newman thanked them for the 
trout, while they enjoyed the refreshing lemonade. 

They told her of their camp at Spring Pond, and ad- 
mired the arrangements of the house-boat. As they 
prepared to start on their row back they gave Dannie 
a wonderful book of trout-flies and told him not to for- 
get the “ pirates ” ! 

“ Pirates ! ” echoed Grandma Newman, as she 


204 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

watched them row swiftly up the lake. “ I never saw 
more pleasant men. Now, Dannie, you build me up a 
nice fire and we’ll broil these nice trout and have them 
all ready when our own fishermen get home.” 


CHAPTER XXII 


THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN 

Gkandpa Newman and Captain Penrith were 
greatly surprised on their return to hear of the visitors 
and of their gift. Then’ own fishing excursion had not 
proved successful, so that the strangers’ trout were 
greatly enjoyed. 

“ Grandma Newman, we have a plan ! ” announced 
Constance, as they finished luncheon. “We want to 
go to the top of that hill which rises back of the woods. 
I am sure the view would be fine from there. Couldn’t 
we go this afternoon ? It will be our only chance, for 
Grandpa Newman says we must start for home to- 
morrow.” 

“ What does Miss Abitha say about it ? ” questioned 
Grandma Newman. 

“ I think we could do it very easily and get back be- 
fore dark,” replied Miss Abitha. “ These woods are 
not dense, and I am quite sure I can find the way.” 

At this Grandma Newman gave her consent, as she 
was sure Miss Abitha would not undertake an excur- 
205 


206 Grandpa s Little Girls 

sion in which there would be danger, and the girls 
were soon ready to start ; their stout boots and short 
duck skirts being well suited for a mountain tramp. 

Captain Penrith listened to the project a little doubt- 
fully. 

“ No, I don’t suppose there is any danger,” he re- 
plied, in answer to Grandpa Newman’s question ; “ but 
it’s a pretty wild country through here, and they might 
lose their bearings.” 

But the girls were all eager to start, and headed by 
Miss Abitha and Myrtle the little party soon disap- 
peared in the woods. 

“ The Wawenocks are leaving the river and jour- 
neying toward the mountains,” said Adrienne Glidden. 
“ Wouldn’t it be fun if we had a real adventure on 
this tramp, and had to stay in the woods all night ? ” 

“ I hope we won’t,” answered Lamb soberly ; “ for 
it would worry Grandma and Grandpa Newman.” 

Rose nodded at Constance as they heard the little 
girl’s reply, and Constance said : “ Lamb has discovered 
your plan, Rose.” 

There was a pleasant little breeze which came 
through the woods, and the girls trudged happily 
along. It was not long before they came out into a 
rocky pasture from which the hill rose. 


House-Boat Party 207 

“ It isn’t such a very high hill after all ! ” said Myrtle 
in a disappointed voice. 

“ It will be a good climb,” Miss Abitha assured her, 
“ and although it isn’t very high I want you girls to 
promise me to keep near together. It is the best and 
safest way.” 

The girls promised readily, and, after a brief rest, 
began to make their way up the mountain. There 
was no path, and they had to scramble over rocks, 
make their way around underbrush, and found it more 
of a climb than they had expected. 

Miss Abitha led the way, and when her companions 
could not see her they could hear her calls and knew 
what direction to follow. 

Lamb and Mary Woody ear were at the very end of 
the procession. At one place they had lingered to look 
at a tiny nest on the branch of a small tree, and fur- 
ther up two fat gray squirrels chasing each other from 
tree to tree held their delighted attention. 

“They play hide-and-go-seek just as we do,” said 
Lamb. “ Where do you suppose their home is ? ” 

“ In some old stump, or way up in a tree-top,” re- 
plied Mary. “ You know they store up nuts, just as- 
bees do honey, to live on when the cold weather comes.” 

“This is a dreadful place to climb up,” declared 


2o8 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Lamb, looking up at the steep ledge in front of them ; 
“ it seems to go all along the mountain.” 

“ Here is a good place to start,” said Mary. “ See, I 
can put my foot on this rock, and pull myself right up 
by holding on to this branch,” and the little girl suc- 
ceeded in clambering up to a shelf of rock on the side 
of the ledge. Lamb quickly followed her. Above this 
was another shelf, and this they reached after a more 
difficult scramble. But now there seemed no way to 
go further, for the ledge above them was smooth, offer- 
ing no possible foothold. 

“ We can walk along this shelf and find a better 
place to climb up,” suggested Lamb ; but they had 
walked only a few steps when the shelf narrowed sud- 
denly, and they had to return to their starting-place. 

“ Perhaps we’d better go down,” said Mary, peering 
over the steep ledge which they had climbed with so 
much difficulty. 

“¥e can’t, Mary. Look, we would have to go down 
backward and we couldn’t see where to put our feet. 
We have got to go up.” 

Just then they heard Miss Abitha’s call ; it sounded 
a good way to the right, the direction in which their 
rocky shelf narrowed so suddenly, and as if it came 
from lower down the hill. 


House-Boat Party 209 

“That sounds as if they were not so far up the 
mountain as we are,” said Mary. 

Lamb was looking up the side of the cliff. “ Mary ! ” 
she exclaimed, “ see, there are little spruce-trees grow- 
ing in crannies way up to the top. I believe we could 
climb up. Let’s try.” 

They looked carefully for a place to give them a 
foothold for their start, but none could be found. 

“We had better call for Miss Abitha,” said Mary, 
after some time had passed in their vain efforts to get 
a foothold. 

“ No,” said Lamb, “ if we do by the time they come 
back and get us it would be too late for them to go to the 
top of the mountain. I guess we had better wait until 
they are on their way back, and then they can stop and 
Miss Abitha will think of some way to get us down.” 

Mary agreed to this cheerfully, and the two little girls 
sat down with their backs against the cliff and looked 
down the hillside. 

“This is pretty high,” said Mary. “We can see 
Spring Pond, and the Lake of the Woods.” 

“We can’t see a single house, can we?” said Lamb. 
“ I suppose this is what the Wawenock^ used to see be- 
fore white people came.” 

After a little time they could no longer hear Miss 


210 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Abitha’ s call, but they did not feel frightened ; and 
not until they saw the red clouds of sunset across the 
lake did they decide that it was time to let Miss 
Abitha know that they were on a shelf on the 
mountainside and could not go further up or get 
down. 

The others of the party had been so busy in making 
their way up the rough slope, in responding to Miss 
Abitha’s calls, and in wondering about the view from 
the summit that Lamb and Mary were not missed until 
the top was reached. The top proved a rocky eminence 
from which they could see down the river for a long 
distance, and over miles of forests. As one after an- 
other of the little party came over the rocks and sat 
down beside Miss Abitha, Constance exclaimed, “ Where 
are Lamb and Mary ? ” 

“ They must be near,” said Rose ; “ they were the end 
of the procession, you know.” 

Constance looked anxiously down to the rough slope, 
and Miss Abitha called the names of the missing girls, 
but no response came. 

“ They wouldn’t hide to frighten us, would they ? ” 
suggested Antoinette Glidden. 

“ No, indeed,” said Constance, “ neither Lamb nor 
Mary would do that. Perhaps they are tired and 


21 1 


House-Boat Party 

have stopped to rest, and will be here in a few 
minutes.’’ 

“ Why, yes,” said Miss Abitha ; “I am sure Lamb 
and Mary would not forget that I said we must all 
keep near together.” But she called their names again, 
and told the others to call, and a chorus of “ Lamb ! 
Mary ! ” sounded from the mountain top. But no echo 
of the sound reached the two little girls perched on 
their rocky shelf. For while they had been clamber- 
ing up the ledge Miss Abitha had led her party much 
farther to the right, where the ascent was easier, and 
Lamb and Mary were a long distance from their friends. 

At the end of a half hour Miss Abitha was very 
anxious. She feared that the little girls might have 
slipped, perhaps fallen into some unsuspected opening 
among the ledges. 

“ ¥e must go back at once, as nearly the same way 
we came as possible,” she said, “ and stop and call their 
names every few minutes. They may be caught in 
some underbrush and unable to get clear.” So the anx- 
ious girls began a slow descent of the hill, stopping 
often to call and look carefully about for some trace of 
Lamb and Mary, but they reached the foot of the hill 
and had not found them. 

“ It is sunset now ; it will not do for us to start up 


212 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

the mountain again,” decided Miss Abitha, “ and it will 
not do to leave those children wandering about alone. 
Rose, could not you and Constance find your way back 
to the lake and tell Mr. Newman what has happened ? 
The rest of us will stay here, and keep calling and per- 
haps they may hear us.” 

Rose and Constance were sure they could go through 
the woods and reach the “ Water Witch” before dark, 
and started at once. 

Up on the rocky shelf Mary and Lamb watched the 
sun sink behind the dark line of forest, and saw the red 
afterglow fade into twilight. Dark shadows began to 
spread over the distant lake, and they could hear the 
sleepy call of birds in the trees below them. 

“ Well, we are not lost, any way, are we, Mary?” 
said Lamb ; “ we know just where we are, and if we 
could get down we could go straight to the lake.” 

“ I should have thought they would have heard us 
call,” said Mary a little mournfully ; “ they must have 
gone down the hill long ago.” 

“ Mary, we must get down ! ” declared Lamb, “ and 
I have thought of a way. We must tear up our skirts 
and make a rope and fasten it on one of these little 
trees, and then swing it over this ledge and let our- 
selves down by it. I remember once Miss Abitha 


House-Boat Party 213 

pulled Jimmie Woodyear up a cliff by tearing up her 
skirt and making a rope.” 

Even while Lamb talked she had slipped off her blue 
duck skirt and was pulling vigorously to start a rent in 
the cloth. Mary followed her example, and just as 
Rose and Constance were hurrying through the 
shadowy woods toward the lake, Lamb’s slim little 
figure, clinging to the knotted strips of duck, swung off 
from the ledge and slid down to the lower ridge. 

“ Come on, it’s all right, Mary,” she called back, and 
Mary quickly followed. The two little girls now 
scrambled down the hillside and soon reached the 
rough pasture land. 

“ Let’s call again,” suggested Lamb ; “ Miss Abitha 
may be waiting for us ! ” 

Miss Abitha was waiting, and so near at hand that 
in a few minutes Lamb and Mary had found her and 
were telling the story of their adventure. 

“ Now we must hurry after Rose and Constance,” 
said Miss Abitha, and they all started across the open 
space that led to the woods. 

Miss Abitha proved a good guide, and they were 
able to make their way rapidly. When they caught a 
glimpse of the house-boat lights and the fire on the 
beach they were all heartily glad. 


214 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ But Bose and Constance are ahead of us,” said 
Adrienne, “ so it will be a surprise for them to see Mary 
and Lamb.” 

“ Well ! Well ! ” exclaimed Grandpa Newman as he 
came to meet them, “ pretty late hours ; nearly eight 
o’clock and supper waiting.” 

“We are all ready for supper,” said Lamb, running 
forward and taking hold of Grandpa Newman’s hand. 
“ Mary and I got caught upon a ledge, and we tore up 
our skirts and made a rope and let ourselves down,” 
she said, telling the story so quickly that the rest of the 
party began to laugh ; and their escape from a night on 
the mountainside no longer seemed so wonderful a 
thing. 

Grandpa Newman laughed with them, but he 
thought to himself that it was a very wonderful thing 
that a little girl like Eunice should be thoughtful 
enough to contrive such a method of escape, and to 
carry it out successfully. 

The story had to be told all over again to Grandma 
Newman and to Captain Penrith and Dannie, and then 
Miss Abitha said, “ Why, where are Constance and 
Bose ? They started a long way ahead of us. I sup- 
posed they were here.” 

The little party looked at each other in surprise and 


House-Boat Party 215 

Grandma Newman exclaimed : “ Don’t wait a minute, 
Jabez ! You and Captain Penrith start right after 
them.” 

“ I’ll get a couple of lanterns,” said Captain Penrith ; 
“ and don’t you worry, ma’am ; we’ll bring the girls 
back safe and sound. Dannie, you tend that fire, it’s 
no matter if that chowder does cook a little longer,” 
and a moment later the glimmer of their lanterns van- 
ished in the shadows of the forest. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


THE END OF THE JOURNEY 

“ I am not anxious about Rose and Constance, not a 
bit anxious ! ” declared Grandma Newman bravely as 
she watched the last glimmer of the lanterns vanish in 
the shadowy wood. “ They know just where the lake 
is, and they both have judgment.” 

“ They will see the lanterns and hear the calls, and, 
if they have lost their direction, will soon be headed 
straight for the ‘ Water Witch,’ ” agreed Miss Abitha 
hopefully, “ and while we are waiting for them I really 
think we mountain-climbers ought to have something 
to eat.” 

This suggestion met with a cordial approval from 
Lamb and the twins, and with Dannie’s help they were 
soon eating the appetizing chowder, and listening for 
the sound of steps to tell them that Rose and Constance 
were back at the camp. 

Supper was finished, the Japanese lanterns on the 
boat lighted, and Dannie put fresh wood on his black 
fire, and still there was no sign of the absent girls. 

They could no longer hear Grandpa Newman and Cap- 
216 


21 7 


House-Boat Party 

tain Penrith’s calls, and finally even Miss Abitha grew 
anxious, and the little party grew very quiet, each one 
looking toward the dark woods and eagerly hoping 
that in a moment more Kose and Constance would ap- 
pear. 

It was nine o’clock when Grandpa Newman and 
Captain Penrith returned. 

“ It is foolish for us to go searching about in the 
woods now,” he declared ; “ the girls are all right, but 
probably mistook their way in the dark and have had 
sense enough to sit down and wait until sunrise. They 
will be none the worse for a night out-of-doors. Now 
you must all go to bed, every one of you. Captain 
Penrith and I will stay up in case they come wander- 
ing in and want some hot chowder.” 

The girls obeyed rather reluctantly, but they were 
all tired with their afternoon’s tramp and it was not 
long before they were sleeping soundly. So soundly 
that they did not hear a little chorus of calls and ex- 
clamations about midnight when two tired girls came 
trudging up the shore of the lake and were warmly 
welcomed, and instantly demanded chowder. 

“ What happened, Peter, to make you lose your 
way ? ” questioned Grandpa Newman as he helped 
Constance to chowder for the second time. 


2 1 8 


Grandpa s Little Girls* 

“ We were sure that we were headed in the right 
direction,” explained Constance, “ and every now and 
then we could get a glimpse of the lake, and then we 
would hurry all the faster for we were anxious about 
Lamb and Mary. When we did reach the shore it was 
a place that we had never seen before, and we couldn’t 
see the 4 Water Witch.’ Rose was sure that we had 
kept too far to the right, and that’s just what we did. 
So we decided to follow the shore back, and it was a 
pretty hard tramp.” 

44 We thought we saw a bear,” added Rose ; 44 we saw 
a great black thing on the beach about a mile below 
here, but it vanished before we got near enough to see 
what it was.” 

44 You must all stay right on the house-boat until I 
get you safe home,” declared Grandma Newman. 

44 Let’s go to bed very quietly and not wake up the 
other girls,” suggested Constance, 44 and then when 
they wake up and see us in our berths they will think 
that they dreamed we were lost.” 

Rose agreed, and they slipped noiselessly into their 
berths, and were soon as fast asleep as their companions. 

Lamb was the first one to awake the next morning, 
and her first thought was for her sister. She sat up in 
bed and looked mournfully across at her sister’s berth. 


House-Boat Party 219 

As she looked her eyes widened, and in a moment she 
had run across the cabin and was looking down into 
Constance’s face. Then she crept back to her own 
berth and lay thinking over the events of the previous 
day. 

“ I don’t believe it was a dream,” she thought. “ I 
am sure that Mary and I were on a ledge and tore up 
our skirts to let ourselves down ; and I know Constance 
and Rose had not got home when we came to bed, but 
here they both are, safe and sound. Mary ! Mary ! ” 
she whispered, and in a moment Mary Woody ear had 
assured her that she had not dreamed their adventures. 

“ Rose and Constance got safely home after we were 
asleep,” explained Mary. “ Let’s make believe that 
they dreamed they were lost, and none of us be sur- 
prised to find them here.” 

So Lamb made a careful journey about the cabin 
whispering to Myrtle Green and to Antoinette and 
Adrienne Glidden not to be surprised when Rose and 
Constance spoke to them. 

They all slept late the next morning, and when Rose 
and Constance slid out of their berths and prepared for 
a morning dip in the lake they found none of the others 
were up. 

“ Aren’t you getting up early, sister ? ” questioned 


220 


Grandpa s Little Girls' 

Lamb sleepily, and Myrtle Green called out, “ We all 
ought to get up and take a dip with Rose and Constance, 
for to-morrow we shall be back at Pine Tree Farm.” 

The two older girls looked at each other in surprise, 
and as neither of the twins nor Mary Woody ear made 
any reference to the fact of their not being at the 
house-boat when the younger girls retired Rose and 
Constance did wonder for a moment if their evening’s 
scramble through the dark woods and along the 
swampy shore had not been an unpleasant dream. 

“ Girls ! ” exclaimed Myrtle, “ I dreamed that we all 
went off on a tramp to the top of that mountain.” 

“You didn’t dream that, Myrtle,” said Rose laugh- 
ingly. 

“ Didn’t I ? ” exclaimed Myrtle in a surprised tone. 
“Well, then I dreamed that Eunice and Mary disap- 
peared, and finally tore up their skirts and swung 
themselves down from a high ledge where they had 
climbed.” 

“ That wasn’t a dream, either,” said Constance ; “ that 
was a fact.” 

But now Lamb interrupted by rushing across the 
cabin and clasping Constance tightly about the neck. 

“ Oh, Sister ! ” she exclaimed, “ we were both almost 
lost, weren’t we ? Tell us how you got safely home.” 


221 


House-Boat: Party 

So there was no more talk about dreams, and Rose 
and Constance again told the story of their wanderings. 

After breakfast Captain Penrith said that the 
“Water Witch” must be ready for the sail home as 
soon as possible, and the girls now realized how nearly 
their delightful trip was at an end, and they were all 
rather quiet as the house-boat drew slowly away from 
the shore and began its cruise down the lake toward 
the river. 

Grandma Newman sat on the promenade deck and 
looked smilingly at the group around her. 

“It has been a real exciting trip,” she declared, 
“but I have enjoyed it. If people must leave good 
comfortable homes and go journeying about I guess 
there isn’t any more comfortable way to travel than in 
a house-boat.” 

“ It’s been the best time I ever had,” said little Mary 
Woody ear. “Why, I shall have things to tell the 
children stories about all winter.” 

“ I think that I shall write a book about it and call 
it, ‘ The House-boat Party ’ ! ” declared Miss Abitha. 

Rose and Constance were busy making lists and pack- 
ages of the plants and flowers they had prepared for 
their collections. They were very sure that Miss Wil- 
son would want them for the botany classes, and they 


212 


Grandpa s Little Girls 

looked forward to adding a good sum to the fund 
which would help Dannie Woody ear to have his 
chance as an astronomer. 

“ Myrtle,” said Lamb, as the two friends looked back 
at the gentle ripple made by the slow-moving craft, 
“ when we started on this trip I made a lovely plan.” 

“ What was it ? ” questioned Myrtle. 

“ I planned to be pleasant to everybody,” said Lamb 
soberly. 

“Well, you have been,” responded Myrtle loyal^ 
but Lamb shook her head. 

“ I haven’t been as pleasant as I meant to be,” she 
answered, “and I planned to be like Eose and Con- 
stance ! ” 

“Now Lamb Eunice Newman,” exclaimed Myrtle, 
“ you think Eose and Constance are perfect, and you 
want to be like them and I’ll just tell you something,” 
and Myrtle’s face had a very firm and determined look. 

“ What is it ? ” asked Lamb. 

“ It is that you are just as good as they are, only you 
are younger. They have had more time to learn things 
than we have, so of course they know more.” 

“ Do you really think that is the reason, Myrtle ? ” 
questioned Lamb hopefully. 

Myrtle nodded her head vigorously. 


House-Boat t'arty 223 

“I am sure it is,” she declared. “Look at your 
Grandma Newman; she is older than any of us and 
better than any of us.” 

“ Yes, indeed ! ” agreed Lamb. 

“ Well, doesn’t that prove it ? All we have to do is 
to learn all we can and do the best we can, and the 
first thing we know we shall be grown up and just as 
good as other people.” 

Lamb seemed greatly cheered by Myrtle’s hopeful 
philosophy, and when the Glidden girls pointed out a 
number of wild ducks swimming near the house-boat 
she hurried after her camera to secure a photograph. 

They did not make any landing for luncheon that 
day, as Grandpa Newman wanted to reach Pine Tree 
Farm that night. In the afternoon Grandma Newman 
told them more stories about the Abenakis, and Miss 
Abitha asked them to tell her all they knew about the 
tribe called Wawenocks. 

After leaving the Lake of the Woods the current of 
the river carried them along more rapidly and it was not 
yet sunset when they came in sight of their home landing. 

“ I see Jimmie ! ” declared Mary Woody ear. 

“ And there is Mr. Eben Bean ! ” exclaimed Myrtle, 
as a tall figure came down toward the shore and waved 
a broad-rimmed straw hat toward the approaching boat. 


224 Grandpa s Little Girls' 

“ And there are father and mother and old Lion ! ” 
said Lamb, holding tight to her grandmother’s hand. 

Captain Penrith made his usual skilful landing, and 
in a short time the house-boat party were all on shore, 
and were warmly welcomed. Jimmie Woody ear took 
charge of his brother and sister, and listened happily to 
all Dannie had to tell him of the wonderful trip. 

Grandpa Newman and Constance persuaded Captain 
Penrith to promise to make Pine Tree Farm a visit as 
soon as he had taken care of the u Water Witch,” and 
then they were all ready for home, a tired and a happy 
group. 

“ Grandma ! ” said Lamb, looking admiringly up 
into her grandmother’s face as they stood on the land- 
ing, “ I am going to grow up to be just like you.” 

“Bless you, child,” said the old lady happily; “I 
want you to grow up to be just like yourself. You 
are a dear, kind child, and I am sure you will be a dear, 
kind woman.” 

“ Yes’m,” replied Lamb, “ and that will be just like 
you, grandma ! ” 


Other Books in this Series are 

GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS 
GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS AT SCHOOL 
GRANDPA’S LITTLE GIRLS AND THEIR FRIENDS 
















